Nutrient Cycles
What is the main process that moves water from the surface of the Earth to the atmosphere?
Evaporation
What is the process that plants use to make their own food?
Photosynthesis
What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Non-living factors like sunlight, water, and temperature.
What type of resource can be replaced naturally over time?
Renewable resource
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum population size an environment can support
Which nutrient cycle involves photosynthesis AND respiration?
The carbon cycle
What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?
The sun
What does the term deciduous mean?
To fall
Name one fossil fuel and one renewable energy source
E.g.: Fossil fuel: Coal; Renewable energy: Solar.
What is an example of a limiting factor in population growth?
Food, water, or space
In the carbon cycle, which 2 processes releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Respiration and combustion
What is a heterotroph?
An organism that consumes other organisms for energy
Which biome is distinguished by its "frozen soil" also known as permafrost?
Tundra
What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of heat by greenhouse gases like CO2.
What is the term for a species’ role in its environment?
Niche
Name the process where bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use.
Nitrogen fixation
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows one path of energy, while a food web shows multiple
Which biome has the highest biodiversity?
Tropical rainforest
What is the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
What is the difference between logistic growth and exponential growth?
Exponential growth is rapid and unlimited, while logistic growth levels off at carrying capacity.
Why is phosphorus important to living organisms?
It's essential for DNA, RNA, and ATP.
What happens to energy as it moves up the energy pyramid?
Only 10% is transferred; the rest is lost as heat
How do invasive species impact biodiversity?
They outcompete native species, leading to reduced biodiversity.
What is eutrophication, and how is it caused?
Eutrophication is the overgrowth of algae in water due to nutrient pollution, often from fertilizers.
Name one density-dependent limiting factor and one density-independent limiting factor.
Density-dependent: Competition; Density-independent: Natural disaster.