Study Guide~ AICE MARINE AS LEVEL EXAM GRADED A+

Trophic level - Answer-"feeding level" in a food chain or food web primary producer - Answer-autotrophs (self feeders) ex: phytoplankton primary consumer - Answer-herbivores feed directly on primary producer secondary consumer - Answer-carnivores that feed on herbivores tertiary consumer - Answer-carnivores that feed on other carnivores top predators - Answer-carnivores at the top of the food chain succession - Answer-gradual change in an ecosystem that occurs over a period of time EX: volcano erupts/creates a flow of lava/species of coral begins to grow/species adapts & grows over time predator - Answer-an animal that catches, kills, and eats another animal EX: Carnivorous fish eating plankton/fish prey - Answer-animals that are eaten by predators. they may use survival tactics such as camouflage EX: starfish eat shellfish however this predator-prey relationship is necessary to keep the balance in an ecosystemkeystone species - Answer-Consumers that have a LARGE effect on the overall biodiversity on an ecosystem... Example: starfish (If starfish are removed from a community-- mussel & sea urchin populations dramatically increase) shoaling - Answer-large #s of fish in the same species coming together in a "social" way shoaling advantages - Answer-1) hydrodynamic frequency 2) more eyes to seek out feed 3) more eyes to seek out predators 4) protection for predators 5) saves energy 6) amount of fish confuses predators 7) increase chance to find a mate 8) easier to reproduce population - Answer-organisms of the SAME species living together community - Answer-organisms of DIFFERENT species living together habitat - Answer-natural environment of an organism