Earth's Spheres and Interactions
Rain falling from a cloud onto a mountain is an interaction between these THREE spheres.
Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere
Name the process plants use to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis
Heat transfer through direct physical contact, like a lizard on a warm rock.
Conduction
The first organisms to colonize bare rock, such as lichens or mosses.
Pioneer species
How long should you flush your eyes at the eyewash station if splashed with a chemical?
20 minutes
Tree roots cracking open bare rock to form soil interacts between these TWO spheres.
Biosphere and Geosphere
Unlike carbon, nitrogen, and water, this nutrient cycle does NOT have a gas phase in the atmosphere
Phosphorus cycle
When warm surface water cools, becomes dense, and sinks in a lake, it drives this type of heat transfer.
Convection
True or False: Controlled forest fires stop evolution.
False — they reset or interfere with ecological succession
Why do invasive species like brown tree snakes or nutria experience rapid population growth in new habitats?
They have no natural predators or enemies
A volcanic eruption releasing ash and blocking sunlight causes cooler temperatures that slow plant growth. Which THREE spheres are interacting here?
Geosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere/Hydrosphere
Paving over farmland increases this water cycle process while decreasing percolation.
Surface Runoff
If only 10% of energy moves to the next trophic level, where does the other 90% go to satisfy the Law of Conservation of Energy?
Lost as heat to the environment through metabolic processes
What type of succession occurs after a natural disaster like a hurricane wipes out a forest but leaves the soil intact?
Secondary Succession
The factor in a controlled experiment that the scientist deliberately changes or manipulates.
Independent variable
Wind blowing across a desert and eroding sand dunes is an interaction between these TWO spheres.
Atmosphere & Geosphere
Water vapor cooling down to form clouds in the atmosphere is known as this process.
Plants act as "energy transformers" during photosynthesis by converting radiant light energy into THIS form of energy.
Chemical Energy
Explain how Community D modifies an environment during succession to allow Community E to establish.
It builds up soil depth and organic nutrients to support larger plant life
What is the primary purpose of a control group in an experiment?
To provide a baseline for comparison to measure the effect of the independent variable
Fish swimming in a freshwater lake is an interaction between these TWO spheres.
Biosphere & Hydrosphere
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon back into the atmosphere through this process.
Combustion
Sunlight heating the surface of the Earth without requiring physical contact is an example of THIS heat transfer method.
Radiation
Clearing a forest for agricultural farming is an example of a [human / natural] process that resets succession.
Human process
Woodpeckers in a forest carve out tree cavities used as shelter by other species, filling a role similar to prairie dogs in grasslands. What term describes species that modify habitats for others?
Ecosystem engineers / Niche roles