Earth's Spheres
Name Earth's 4 spheres.
Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere
What do you call a place where an organism lives?
Habitat
Is the following an example of a food web or a food chain?
grass ----> rabbit ----> coyote
food chain
Define the following feeding niches:
Herbivore
Omnivore
Carnivore
Herb = eats plants
Omni = eats both plants and meat
Carni = eats meat
Why is it difficult to tell how many species exist on Earth?
No global list, species could look similar, too many to count, etc.
What is the cryosphere?
Give an example of two abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Any nonliving thing (ex. air, water, sun, rocks, etc.)
Where do autotrophs get their energy? What is the other name for an autotroph?
the Sun, producers
What might be the role of a worm in an ecosystem?
Answers will vary, food for birds, decomposers, etc.
What two specific things is the Endangered Species Act meant to protect?
Endangered or threatened species, the habitats of endangered species
What is the alternative name for the Geosphere?
Lithosphere
A group of organisms of the same species found in one area at a given time is a_________
Population
Why are decomposers and scavengers found all throughout food webs?
They eat and break down dead and decaying matter.
What is the difference between a fundamental and a realized niche?
Fundamental = the role of an organism without competition
Realized = the role of an organism in real life, with competition
Rank endangered, threatened, extinct, and healthy from the LEAST to MOST population numbers.
Extinct, endangered, threatened, healthy
Which sphere is consistently monitored to provide data about climate change?
The cryosphere
The specific role an organism has in its ecosystem is its________
Niche *bonus points if fundamental vs. realized are mentioned*
What specifically do the arrows in food chains and webs represent?
Energy transfer
What are the 3 main types of symbiotic relationship and what do they mean?
Mutualism = benefit/benefit
Commensalism = benefit/neutral
Parasitism = benefit/harmful
Name the 4 types of speciation and give a quick description of each.
Geographical - landscape barriers
Temporal - mate at different times of year
Mechanical - parts not compatible
Behavioral - different courtship rituals
Give 2 examples of ways the spheres interact with each other. (ex. the air in the atmosphere is necessary for the life in the biosphere, water vapor in the atmosphere also belongs to the hydrosphere when it condenses into clouds and rains)
answers will vary
Koalas are found in areas that have eucalyptus trees to support their limited diet. Are they specialists or generalists?
Specialists
Draw and label the trophic pyramid, and include an example of an organism you would find at each level.
Answers will vary but must include
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Autotrophs (producers)
Scavengers/Decomposers
A vine climbs up a tree. It steal nutrients from the tree and blocks the tree's sunlight. What kind of relationship is this?
Parasitism
- Don't interbreed in the wild
- Different habitats, ecosystems, behaviors
- DNA differences
etc.