Problem 2 - Campbell Biology Concepts & Connections

Question

All the organisms on your campus make up a. an ecosystem. b. a community. c. a population. d. the biosphere.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

b. a community

Step 1: Understand the Definitions

First, understand the definitions of the given options: - Ecosystem: A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.- Community: All the different populations that live together in an area.- Population: A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.- Biosphere: The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships.

Step 2: Identify the Scope

The question mentions 'all the organisms on your campus.' This implies we are looking at different populations living together in a specific area.

Step 3: Match Definitions to the Question

Match the definitions to the context of the question. 'All the organisms on your campus' refers to various species living together, which fits the definition of a community.

Step 4: Select the Correct Answer

Based on the understanding of definitions and the context provided, the correct answer is b. a community.

Key Concepts

ecosystem

An ecosystem is a larger unit than a community. It's a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Think of an ecosystem as a town where not only people live, but they interact with buildings, streets, and parks.It's not just the living things (organisms) in a given area, but also the non-living parts (like air, water, and soil) that they interact with.

• The living part of an ecosystem includes plants, animals, and microorganisms.
• The non-living part comprises sunlight, temperature, and all the chemical and physical factors.

When you consider the entire campus, including the air, temperature, buildings, and other non-living factors, you are talking about an ecosystem.

community

A community is all the living organisms in a particular area interacting with each other.
When we say 'all organisms on your campus,' we refer to a community. This includes various species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms living in one place.

• A community only includes the populations of different species.
• It excludes non-living things like rocks, water, and climate.

Different species in a community interact in numerous ways: Predation, competition for resources, and mutualistic relationships (like bees pollinating flowers).

population

A population is more specific. It's a group of individuals of the same species living together.
If we narrow our focus to just all the oak trees or all the bluebirds on your campus, we are talking about populations.

• Members of a population share the same gene pool.
• They occupy the same space and can interact, but they exclude other species.

Populations grow or shrink due to births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.

biosphere

The biosphere is the broadest term. It covers all the places on Earth where life exists.
Imagine the biosphere as a layer wrapping around Earth's surface where life can be found, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountains.

• It includes many ecosystems and communities.
• It stretches across land, water, and atmosphere.

The biosphere is vital for sustaining life as it integrates all living beings and their interactions.