The Spheres of the Earth
List the names of the 3 spheres on Earth
Biosphere/geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Name the four types of cycles
Water cycle, Carbon cycle, Nitrogen Cycle and Phosphorus Cycle
List 1 abiotic and 1 biotic in an ecosystem
Abiotic: Sun, Rock, Water, Nutrients, Minerals and etc.
Biotic: Animals, Plants, Bacteria and etc.
What do animals breathe in and out?
Breathe in - Oxygen
Breathe out - Carbon dioxide
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular ecosystem.
What is the geosphere?
Earth containing the rocks and minerals that make up mountains, ocean floors and the land.
List two components of the water cycle
Precipitation
Condensation
Evaporation
Transpiration from Plants back into the Atmosphere
Ground water
Snow melts
Runoff
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment.
What is photosynthesis?
- The process where the Sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy (Glucose/Sugar).
- Occurs in plants!!
Name one type of At-risk Species and explain what it means.
Vulnerable - species population that is slowly declining.
Threatened - species that may become endangered if the factors that make them vulnerable isn't reversed.
Extirpated - species that no longer exist in one part of a country, province or state but exist in another part.
Endangered - species that are close to extinction in large parts of the country and a few still left.
Extinct - species that no longer exist on Earth
What is the hydrosphere?
All the water on, above or below Earth.
Includes ocean, ice, ground water and clouds
What element does the fertilizer "run-off" bring into the waterways?
Phosphorus
What are three examples of an ecosystem?
Terrestrial (forest, farm, jungle)
Aquatic (ocean, sea, river)
What is a producer in an ecosystem? Provide two examples.
Producer is an organism that makes its own energy (rich food components) using the Sun’s energy.
Examples: Trees, plants, Algae
What are three benefits to high biodiversity in an ecosystem?
Production of Food (animals and crops)
Production of Oxygen (plants)
Removal of waste products through decomposers
What is the Biosphere?
Biosphere describes the location in which life can exist within the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
How do humans increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air?
- Burning fossil fuels
- Removing vegetation (cutting down trees, plants)
What is the difference between Population and Communities?
Population is all of the individuals of a single species in a particular area.
Community is the formation of individuals from all of the populations in a particular area.
What are the three types of consumers?
Herbivores - Eat only plants
Carnivores - Eat only animals
Omnivores - Eat both plants and animals
How do Invasive Species threaten the ecosystem? Provide two reasons.
Alter the habitat.
Limit available resources (food, water, nutrients and etc)
Introduce disease/virus
Why does the atmosphere act like a blanket?
It provides us with moderate temperature, protects us from solar radiation and ultraviolet light.
What are main steps in the Nitrogen Cycle?
1. Nitrogen fixation (N2 goes to soil through precipitation (rain, snow or lightning).
2. Soil bacteria taking nitrogen and adding hydrogen to make NH4 .
3. Ammonia will convert into Nitrate.
4. Nitrate will be easily absorbed by plants which then will be consumed by animals.
5. Animal waste product and dead plants/animals will allow decomposers to break down nitrogen.
6. Nitrogen will go back into the soil or atmosphere.
What are three factors that can affect the sustainability of an ecosystem?
Deforestration, Oil Spill, Pollution, Predators, Plastic pollution, Heavy metals in the water, Building Cities and etc.
Create a food chain using the following: grass, snakes, snails and birds.
Grass -> Snails -> Birds --> Snakes
What are the three ways we can control Invasive Species?
1. Chemical control - the use of pesticides to prevent crops from going bad or being consumed by invasive species.
2. Mechanical control - creating physical barriers to prevent the movement between ecosystems
3. Biological control - introducing another invasive species to kill off another invasive species in the ecosystem