Ecosystems
What term describes a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting amongst each other?
Ecosystem
What process describes the movement of carbon through the atmosphere, living organisms, and Earth?
Carbon Cycle
Which axis are the independent and dependent variables found on?
x - independent
y - dependent
What is the smallest unit of life that can function independently?
Cell
What describes a relationship where both species benefit?
Mutualism
Identify a biotic factor that can influence an ecosystem
Any living organism (plants, animals, etc)
Identify one human activity that can disrupt the carbon cycle
burning fossil fuels, deforestation, etc
What is an independent variable?
A variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test its effect on the dependent variable
Describe the organizational level that includes multiple populations interacting in the same area
Community
Define a keystone species
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance
What is the role of a producer in an ecosystem?
They convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis
What is the primary source of phosphorus from plants
Soil/Rock or water containing phosphorus compounds
What is a control?
A variable that is kept constant to ensure that the results are due to the independent variable
What term describes all the organisms of the same species living in a specific area?
Population
What type of competition occurs when two species compete for the same resource?
Interspecific competition
Name a primary decomposer
fungi, bacteria, worms
Name the process by which nitrogen is converted into a form usable by plants
nitrogen fixation
What are the steps to the scientific method in order
Ask a question / State the problem
Research
Form a Hypothesis
Experiment
Analyze Data
Form conclusion
Name some abiotic factors that effect and interact with an ecological system. Must name 3
energy, climate, minerals, air, water, soil, sunlight
Describe the role of a predator in an ecosystem
Predators control prey population and help maintain the balance of the ecosystem
Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem, from producers to top consumers
Primary consumers --> secondary consumers --> tertiary consumers -->, with each transfer resulting in energy loss of 90%
Explain the importance of the nitrogen cycle in ecosystems
Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and proteins which are fundamental to all life
Provide an example experiment and highlight the independent and dependent variable in your mock experiment
TBD
What are the levels of organization in order
Give an example of a commensalism relationship and explain why it is one
TBD