Changing Ecosystems
p. 165 #1
The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called ____________.
succession
p. 165 #5
An example of a biotic resource that people obtain from ecosystems is ___________.
Wood
p. 166 #9
The most effective way to preserve biodiversity is through _______.
habitat preservation
p. 166 #14
What is a likely method of dispersal for seeds that are contained within a small berry?
an animal
p. 167 #1
How does primary succession differ from secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs where no soil exists.
p. 165 #2
_____________ are the first species to populate an area.
pioneer species
p. 165 #6
An example of an abiotic resource that people obtain from ecosystems is ____.
water
p. 166 #10
Environmental factors such as climate change and disease can cause a species to become _________.
extinct
p. 166 #15
The study of where organisms live and how they got there is called _________.
biogeography
Which organism introduced to the United States has caused populations of native wetland plants to decrease?
nutria
p. 165#3
How do wildfires affect the ability of longleaf pine trees to survive?
Wildfires kill competitors such as invasive oak trees that are not adapted to fire. They also kill the deadly fungus that infects the longleaf pine seedling's needles.
p. 165 #7
What impact might nutria have on the native animals living in an ecosystem?
Nutria might eat most of the food that other animals eat, so there is less food for native animals.
p. 166 #12
A species that has disappeared from Earth is _______.
extinct
p. 166 #16
When might seed dispersal not be beneficial?
When seeds are carried to an area where you do not want them to grow.
p. 167 #3
Which of the following are biotic resources that humans obtain from marine exosystmes?
clams, mussels, aquatic plants
p. 165#4
Describe one scenario that would result in primary succession and one scenario that would result in secondary succession. Explain your reasoning.
A violent volcanic eruption might result in primary succession because the ecosystem would have no soil or living things immediately after the eruption. A forest fire might result in secondary succession because the ecosystem would have soil and some living things immediately after the fire.
p. 165 #8
Students living in a heavily deforested area are working to plant new trees. What effect might this program have on the atmosphere?
Because trees use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, plating trees would lower rates of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This would reduce the effects of global warming.
p. 166 #13
What is the relationship between genetic diversity and biodiversity?
Genetic diversity contributes to biodiversity because it gives organisms a diverse gene pool. This makes them more able to adapt and survive changes in their environment.
p. 166 #17
People regularly set controlled fires in some ecosystems to prevent the growth of invasive plants. What impact do the fires have on these ecosystems? On the atmosphere?
The fires kill invasive plants, which helps the plants adapted to fire grow better. Burning wood releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which scientists think contributes to global warming. Also fewer plants are available to take in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Organisms can be dispersed in all of the following ways except by _______.
temperature
Challenge Question
What is the difference between a structural and a behavioral adaptation?
Structural has to do with how it is "built". Behavioral has to do with behavioral changes.
Challenge Question
What were the five invasive species in Tennessee that we researched?
tree of heaven, fire ants, Africanized bees, kudzu, and zebra mussels
Challenge Question
What is the difference between threatened, endangered, and extinct?
Threatened means they are close to being endangered. Endangered means they are close to being extinct. Extinct means there is no more of that species.
Challenge Question
As Earth's plates move, the continents move with them in a process called ____________.
continental drift
p. 167 #5
Why are decomposers useful to people?
Decomposers break down dead plants and animals. This adds nutrients to the soil. People need nutrient rich soil to grow plants and graze animals for food.