What could be some unintended consequences of using fertilizer?
which biochemical cycle does this effect?
algae blooms causing the depletion of oxygen in surface waters, pathogens and nitrates in drinking water, and the emission of odors and gases into the air. Nutrients from manure and fertilizers enter lakes and streams through runoff and soil erosion.
Nitrogen cycle
identify the 3 types of symbiotic relationships and provide and example.
parasitism. A relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is harmed. (ticks and humans)
commensalism. A relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is unharmed. (shark and ramora fish)
mutualism. A relationship between two organisms where both benefit. (honey bees and flowers)
Explain the two types of models used for population growth
Two types of population growth patterns may occur depending on specific environmental conditions: An exponential growth pattern (J curve) occurs in an ideal, unlimited environment. A logistic growth pattern (S curve) occurs when environmental pressures slow the rate of growth.
Which number would the artic tundra be?
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1b3LVtXNX1xyXs7eyxYn3z1cr6bu0KVTVkiGaM49XJUs/viewer?f=4
This is the development of crops (AKA high responders) that grow and yield well with increased use of fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticides
What is the Green Revolution?
The 6 properties of water?
Polarity - having a slight positive and negative charge on either end, water molecules are able to dissolve polar or ionic substances and carry materials to and from cell.
Only inorganic liquid occurring in nature in normal conditions at temperatures that are adequate for life.
Cohesiveness - water molecules stick together tenaciously. Water has the higher surface tension than other natural liquids and adheres to surfaces, leading to capillary action.This allows water and nutrients to move into reservoirs and through living organisms.
Crystallization - water expands and floats when it freezes because it is less dense than its liquid state. This creates and insulation for underlying layers in bodies of water- molecules in their liquid state and aquatic systems safe when temperatures are below freezing.
Vaporization - water molecules have a high heat of vaporization and use large amounts of heat to convert liquid to vapor. The evaporation allows organisms to shed excess heat (i.e. sweating).
High specific heat - large amounts of heat are absorbed before it changes temperature. Water’s slow response to temperature change aides in moderating global temperatures.
Why are black bears better able to adapt to human disturbances than panda bears in their habitats?
Black bears are generalists and pandas are specialist. They require specific environmental conditions for their niche.
What do you think are the maximum and optimum carrying capacities for humans? Is there a max number of humans or can technology increase the human carrying capacity? What other factors need to be considered?
9-10 billion but Humans have increased the world's carrying capacity through migration, agriculture, medical advances, and communication. The age structure of a population allows us to predict population growth.
What are the major threats to biodiversity, choose one of these threats and provide some detail on how it is a threat to biodiversity
HIPPO: H=Habitat Loss, I=Invasive Species, P=Pollution, P=Human Population, and O=Overharvesting
What are the benefits of eating/buying food locally?
More nutrition, lower carbon emissions, better biodiversity, higher quality soil, may taste better, higher local economy, better water quality
draw and label your favorite biochemical cycle
see Jamboard
Describe resource partitioning and give an example
Process of dividing up resources in an ecosystem so that species with similar needs (overlapping niches) use the same scarce resources at different times, in different ways, or in different places.
One common example is the distribution of lizards in the Caribbean islands. The lizards mostly eat the same types of food—insects. However, they can live in different microhabitats within the context of their larger habitat. For example, some lizards can live on the forest floor while others may live higher up in the habitat in trees. This differentiation and partitioning of resources based on their physical location allows the different species to coexist more effectively with one another.
What regions of the world are experiencing growth and are there regions where growth has slowed?
Middle East, Africa
Russia, Europe
What are some ways to protect biodiversity?
Describe CAFOs + their pros and cons
These industrialized animal agriculture facilities are where livestock is (over)packed and raised in a large enclosure their entire life. The animals are fed a strict diet of corn, soy, and animal proteins. CAFOs are controversial because of the externalized costs including, but not limited to, overuse of antibiotics and runoff/damage to the environment from bacteria and chemicals. There are also ethical issues because of the genetic modifications operators are making to livestock to maximize their production. This technological and breeding innovation does have societal pros though, like efficiency, good taste, and lower prices
draw a four trophic level food pyramid. What is the amount of energy transferred between each level?
Describe the flow of energy in an ecosystem, how do plants capture energy and what form is this energy?
see website
The sun is the main source of energy on earth its energy is captured by primary producers (green plants, algae, bacteria). (p. 36) Green plants use photosynthesis to convert radiant energy into useful high quality chemical energy in the bonds that hold together chemical molecules. (p. 37). The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss energy through the release of heat. This occurs when energy is transferred between trophic levels as illustrated in a food web. When one animal feeds off another, there is a loss of heat (energy) in the process.
Provide an example of how predation leads to adaptation in prey and vice versa
Predation has a powerful selective effect on prey, and the prey develop antipredator adaptations such as warning coloration, alarm calls and other signals, camouflage, mimicry of well-defended species, and defensive spines and chemicals. ... Predation has been a major driver of evolution. A common adaptation in both predator and prey is camouflage. Several examples are shown in Figure below. Camouflage in prey helps them hide from predators. Camouflage in predators helps them sneak up on prey
Describe the IPAT equation
IPAT is an acronym for the equation of model that links sustainability outputs to three causal factors. The letters represent the basic form of the model, which is: Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology.
benefits of biodiversity?
Biodiversity supports food security and sustained livelihoods through overall genetic diversity. Genes regulate all biological processes on the planet and increase the ability of organisms to cope with environmental stressors.
Humans have an immense impact on the environment and ecosystems with high biodiversity are able to recover from disturbances more quickly. Humanity depends on ecological services from other organisms like soil formation, waste disposal, air and water purification, nutrient cycling, absorption of solar energy, and the production of food and medicine. Nature is also aesthetically pleasing and regularly used for recreational activities. (pg. 111).
Give four reasons why soil fauna are crucial to soil
Soil organisms (fauna) are important because they can decompose and recycle organic material into available nutrients, help soil form structure and texture, create air pockets deeper in the soil, and can provide certain antibiotics
which cycle is affected by the burning wood, fossil fuels (such as oil, coal, and natural gas)?
What are some effects of burning coal?
The carbon cycle... but others?
Several principal emissions result from coal combustion:
Describe the speciation process
Speciation occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics. The demands of a different environment or the characteristics of the members of the new group will differentiate the new species from their ancestors.
Genetic drift is the drifting of the frequency of an allele relative to that of the other alleles in a population over time as a result of a chance or random event.
What factors affect population growth?
Choose your favorite terrestrial and/or aquatic biome and describe the environmental conditions that controls its distribution
Elevation, oxygen, sunlight, temperature
Nine major types of terrestrial biomes:
Tropical moist forests (100)- characterized by ample rainfall and uniform temperatures. As the soil is poor in nutrients, 90% of nutrients are in the bodies of living organisms so the growth of the ecosystem depends on the rate of decomposition and recycling dead organisms. They are very vulnerable to deforestation. Specific types are:
Cloud forests in mountainous areas where heavy fog keeps things moist.
Rainforests are abundant with rainfall and are warm to hot year round.
Tropical seasonal forests (101)- characterized by having a distinct wet and dry season with consistently hot temperatures. Trees in dry forest are drought-deciduous and tend to lead into open woodlands and grassy savannas dotted with scattered, drought resistant trees. They have nutrient rich soil and are vulnerable to deforestation.
Tropical savannas and grasslands (101)- savannas are grasslands with sparse tree coverings that are dry most of the year. Plants have adaptations for the little rainfall, like deep roots for groundwater. They are vulnerable to fires and migratory grazers that lead to ersoion.
Deserts (101)- characterized by sporadic and low precipitation with extremely hot and cold temperatures Many organisms have developed adaptations for the harsh conditions. Deserts are vulnerable to overgrazing, slow plant growth damage, and slow solid recovery.
Temperate grasslands (102)- characterized by having enough rain for the growth of abundant grass and plants but not enough for forests. They can have extremely hot and cold temperatures and nutrient rich soil from winter accumulation of dead leaves decomposing.
Temperate shrubland (103)- AKA Mediterrainian because the hot season coincides with the dry season while there are cool, moist winters. There is increased plant growth after fires (CHAPARRAL) This is a relatively small biome but there is much biodiversity.
Temperate forests (103)- characterized by being temperate with a wide range of precipitation. There are two categories:
Deciduous-they lose leaves seasonally and change color in the fall. The low latitude drought-deciduous trees regrow quickly because of moist moderate climates. Extensive human impact makes this vulnerable to deforestation.
Evergreen Coniferous- (cone bearing) are where moisture is limited like cold, frozen winters and hot with seasonal droughts. Has sandy soil little moisture.
Boreal Forests (103)- AKA Taiga, a region of coniferous forest (such as pine, spruce, and fir) in the Northern Hemisphere that is located south of the tundra. Cold temperatures sloths growth as well as the short growing season. Region is vulnerable to logging.
Tundra (104)-characterized by having below freezing temperatures and very low biodiversity. Has a very short growing season and is threatened by global warming (melting).
What are GMOs and how do they hurt and help society?
Genetic engineering refers to the splicing of genes from one organism into the chromosomes of another to enhance the quantity and quality of food. Completely new organisms (GMO's ) have been built from borrowed genes and inserted DNA. This can be helpful, as these designer crops can produce and/or tolerate organic substances, tolerate harsh conditions, or provide strong crop yields. But genetic engineering can hurt the environment because monopolies on seed industries have formed as the GMO only produces once (sometimes). Among some health concerns, genetic engineering can also cause weeds and insects to become resistant and overall affect the biodiversity of an area.