Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation Certification
Ecology - Answer: the study of the interactions between an organism and its environment.
Involves scientific study of the factors determining the distribution and abundance of
organisms.
Biosphere - Answer: sum of the ecosystems, communities and populations of the earth which is
inhabited by living organisms.
Biome - Answer: large, naturally occurring and occupying a major habitat.
Aquatic biome - Answer: found within a body of water.
Freshwater - Answer: defined by a very low concentration of salts; includes ponds, lakes,
streams and rivers.
Marine - Answer: defined by a high concentration of salts; includes oceans and coral reefs.
Forests - Answer: dominated by trees.
Tropical - Answer: most biodiverse of all ecosystems; lacks seasonal climate, but can have wet
and dry seasons.
Temperate - Answer: includes deciduous and evergreen forests; has a seasonal climate.
Taiga - Answer: coniferous forests with cold climate including long winters and short summers;
mostly evergreen trees.
,Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation Certification
Grasslands - Answer: dominated by grasses and are mostly devoid of trees and shrubs.
Temperate grassland - Answer: present in temperate climates.
Tropical grasslands - Answer: found in warm or hot climates; also referred to as savannas.
Wetlands - Answer: dominated by aquatic plants and poorly draining soils.
Bogs - Answer: wetland which accumulates dead organic material.
Fens - Answer: wetland with alkaline and mineral rich soils.
Marshes - Answer: wetland dominated by herbaceous vegetation.
Swamps - Answer: wetland dominated by woody plants.
Ecosystem - Answer: ecological level at which biotic and abiotic elements interact within a
biome.
Community - Answer: the assemblage of different species of flora and fauna living in an area.
Population - Answer: groups of individuals of the same species occupying a particular area at
the same time.
Organism - Answer: individual members of a species.
, Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation Certification
Producers - Answer: produce energy or biomass through the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis - Answer: the process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide to plant
tissue from sunlight energy and water.
Cellular respiration - Answer: All living things, including plants, respire; organisms require
oxygen to break down glucose in order to create energy.
Consumers - Answer: obtain food and energy through the consumption of other organisms.
Niche - Answer: Describes how organisms match abiotic environmental conditions and
resources to distribution of species and populations.
Competition - Answer: Interaction between two organisms for the same resource, such as food,
space or light.
Predation - Answer: when one species eats another for nutrition.
Parasitism - Answer: when one species benefits while the other is harmed.
Mutualism - Answer: when both species benefit from ecological interaction.
Commensalism - Answer: when one species benefits while the other is unaffected.
Ecology - Answer: the study of the interactions between an organism and its environment.
Involves scientific study of the factors determining the distribution and abundance of
organisms.
Biosphere - Answer: sum of the ecosystems, communities and populations of the earth which is
inhabited by living organisms.
Biome - Answer: large, naturally occurring and occupying a major habitat.
Aquatic biome - Answer: found within a body of water.
Freshwater - Answer: defined by a very low concentration of salts; includes ponds, lakes,
streams and rivers.
Marine - Answer: defined by a high concentration of salts; includes oceans and coral reefs.
Forests - Answer: dominated by trees.
Tropical - Answer: most biodiverse of all ecosystems; lacks seasonal climate, but can have wet
and dry seasons.
Temperate - Answer: includes deciduous and evergreen forests; has a seasonal climate.
Taiga - Answer: coniferous forests with cold climate including long winters and short summers;
mostly evergreen trees.
,Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation Certification
Grasslands - Answer: dominated by grasses and are mostly devoid of trees and shrubs.
Temperate grassland - Answer: present in temperate climates.
Tropical grasslands - Answer: found in warm or hot climates; also referred to as savannas.
Wetlands - Answer: dominated by aquatic plants and poorly draining soils.
Bogs - Answer: wetland which accumulates dead organic material.
Fens - Answer: wetland with alkaline and mineral rich soils.
Marshes - Answer: wetland dominated by herbaceous vegetation.
Swamps - Answer: wetland dominated by woody plants.
Ecosystem - Answer: ecological level at which biotic and abiotic elements interact within a
biome.
Community - Answer: the assemblage of different species of flora and fauna living in an area.
Population - Answer: groups of individuals of the same species occupying a particular area at
the same time.
Organism - Answer: individual members of a species.
, Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation Certification
Producers - Answer: produce energy or biomass through the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis - Answer: the process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide to plant
tissue from sunlight energy and water.
Cellular respiration - Answer: All living things, including plants, respire; organisms require
oxygen to break down glucose in order to create energy.
Consumers - Answer: obtain food and energy through the consumption of other organisms.
Niche - Answer: Describes how organisms match abiotic environmental conditions and
resources to distribution of species and populations.
Competition - Answer: Interaction between two organisms for the same resource, such as food,
space or light.
Predation - Answer: when one species eats another for nutrition.
Parasitism - Answer: when one species benefits while the other is harmed.
Mutualism - Answer: when both species benefit from ecological interaction.
Commensalism - Answer: when one species benefits while the other is unaffected.
