Topic 3
Explain why sexual reproduction results in offspring with more genetic variation than asexual reproduction.
Offspring that result from sexual reproduction get half of their genetic material from each parent. This results in more variation because the offspring is distinct from the parents. With asexual reproduction, there is only a single source of genetic material for the offspring, so they are identical to the parent.
In terms of its effect on the population, which factor is most similar to birth rate?
Immigration
To reduce competition, the role of an organism in its habitat is called its
niche
What can be considered a nonrenewable resource?
Natural Gas
Rather than increasing at a constant rate, human population growth in recent decades has increased more and more rapidly over time. This rate of change is called
exponential growth
A maple tree produces male and female flowers. what term best describes the maple?
Angiosperm
Describe how the availability of water can limit the growth of a population that otherwise has unlimited resources.
All organisms need water. Even if all other factors that affect population are favorable-abundant food, plenty of space, no disease-a decline of water will make life difficult. It is a limiting factor.
The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called
succession
Which of the following is directly involved in transforming the remains of organisms into fossil fuels?
pressure
Which is a natural source of air pollution?
volcanoes
What are mating systems?
Behavior patterns that are related to how animals reproduce.
What term describes a straight series of connections among organisms that feed on each other.
Food Chain
A ________is a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.
Keystone species
Which of the following is a drawback of biofuels such as ethanol?
The energy ethanol can provide is about the same as the energy required to make it.
as humans populations continue to increase, the demand for natural resources___________.
Cooperative behaviors can (increase/decrease) an animals chances of surviving to reproduce.
Increase
Rain, hail, and snow are all examples of what.
Precipitation
Going for a hike in a forest where you can breathe fresh air, observe wildlife, and relax is an example of a ______________ service that an ecosystem can provide.
Cultural
Many minerals are formed from________ as water_______.
1)solutions
2)evaporates
Which of these changes can lead to desertification?
reduced moisture
How do environmental conditions affect the growth of an animal?
If an animal does not get a proper amount of food, then it will not grow to its normal size. The amount of available space can also affect the growth of an animal. The disease is another environmental factor that can cause an animal to die or result in abnormal growth.
How is carbon cycled between organisms and the environment?
Decomposers breakdown the remains of dead organisms; some carbon is released into the soil; some into the air as CO2. Living organisms give off carbon dioxide and producers use it in photosynthesis. Consumers eat plants containing carbon.
the water cycle, photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and soil formation are ex of
supporting services
Most freshwater on Earth is
locked up in ice
Which of these is a source of human-made ocean pollution?
Fresh Water