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2 Basic Ecology
• James Hansen’s research, publications, and voice remain crucial for understanding the effects of climate change today.
• The future trends in the various continents mainly show that there could be
adverse impacts associated with more climate change vagaries.
• In the future, Africa will be characterized by food insecurity because of the
high temperatures, while Europe and North America will experience extreme
temperatures
• South America and Asia will have reduced rainfall, heatwaves, lower crop yields,
and more droughts
• Australia’s future trends could be increased acidification, fewer tropical cyclones,
and unpredictable weather patterns
2.7 Discussion Questions
1. Differentiate between organism, population, community, biosphere, and
ecosystem.
2. Describe community ecology in terms of mutualism, predation, and competition.
3. Which is the most effective way of protecting biodiversity?
4. Describe ecosystem services and provide examples.
5. What is the importance of wetlands in maintaining biodiversity?
6. Discuss the components of an ecosystem.
7. Differentiate between ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity, biodiversity, and
invasive species.
8. Which is the major threat to biodiversity today?
9. Outline four benefits of biodiversity.
10. What could change a certain habitat’s carrying capacity?
11. Describe factors that determine the carrying capacity of (a) a country and (b) a
population.
12. What is the difference between population and community ecology?
13. Briefly describe the water cycle.
14. What factors could lead to the disruption of the water cycle?
15. How does energy limit the number of steps involved in a food chain?
16. In what way is the sun the engine of the motorcycle?
17. Describe the carbon cycle.
18. Describe the way photosynthesis acts as the major consumer of carbon dioxide.
19. What are fossil fuels, and what is their effect on the environment?
20. Describe the four spheres of the Earth and their importance.
2 Basic Ecology
• James Hansen’s research, publications, and voice remain crucial for understanding the effects of climate change today.
• The future trends in the various continents mainly show that there could be
adverse impacts associated with more climate change vagaries.
• In the future, Africa will be characterized by food insecurity because of the
high temperatures, while Europe and North America will experience extreme
temperatures
• South America and Asia will have reduced rainfall, heatwaves, lower crop yields,
and more droughts
• Australia’s future trends could be increased acidification, fewer tropical cyclones,
and unpredictable weather patterns
2.7 Discussion Questions
1. Differentiate between organism, population, community, biosphere, and
ecosystem.
2. Describe community ecology in terms of mutualism, predation, and competition.
3. Which is the most effective way of protecting biodiversity?
4. Describe ecosystem services and provide examples.
5. What is the importance of wetlands in maintaining biodiversity?
6. Discuss the components of an ecosystem.
7. Differentiate between ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity, biodiversity, and
invasive species.
8. Which is the major threat to biodiversity today?
9. Outline four benefits of biodiversity.
10. What could change a certain habitat’s carrying capacity?
11. Describe factors that determine the carrying capacity of (a) a country and (b) a
population.
12. What is the difference between population and community ecology?
13. Briefly describe the water cycle.
14. What factors could lead to the disruption of the water cycle?
15. How does energy limit the number of steps involved in a food chain?
16. In what way is the sun the engine of the motorcycle?
17. Describe the carbon cycle.
18. Describe the way photosynthesis acts as the major consumer of carbon dioxide.
19. What are fossil fuels, and what is their effect on the environment?
20. Describe the four spheres of the Earth and their importance.