Scientific Method
Ecology I
Ecology II
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
100

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Question/Purpose, background research, hypothesis, experiment, analysis, conclusion

100

Define organism, population, and community

Organism: any single living thing... Population: all individuals of ONE species in an area... Community: all populations of different species in an area

100

What's the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Autotrophs are producers (make their own food) and heterotrophs are consumers/decomposers (cannot make their own food)

100

Where does photosynthesis occur?

Chloroplast

100

Where does cellular respiration occur?

Mitochondria

200

A researcher wants to test the affect of temperature on the speed of melting ice. What is the independent variable?

temperature

200

Define ecosystem, biome, and biosphere

Ecosystem: the community (biotic) plus the abiotic factors in an environment... biome: area of similar climate/soil/wildlife... biosphere: the whole region where life exists (earth)

200

Explain tragedy of the commons

Overuse of an unregulated common resource leads to the resource disappearing

200

What is the purpose of photosynthesis and what kind of organisms perform this process?

Producers use photosynthesis to make glucose from sun energy.

200

What's the goal of cellular respiration?

Break down glucose to get ATP

300

A researcher wants to test the affect of temperature on the speed of melting ice. What is the dependent variable?

the speed the ice melts

300

Explain the four types of symbiotic relationships

Mutualism: both benefit... parasitism: one benefits, one harmed... commensalism: one benefits, one unaffected... amensalism: one harmed, one unaffected

300

Explain the process of eutrophication

Fertilizers pollute a body of water with excess nutrients. This causes an algal bloom (algae feed off of the nutrients). Then algae can grow so thick it blocks sunlight and kills aquatic plants. Dead plants/algae lead to an increase in bacteria. Bacteria use up all the oxygen in the water leading to a dead zone.

300

What are 4 differences between plant and animal cells?

Plants have large vacuole, cell wall, and chloroplasts, but no lysosomes. Animals have small vacuoles, no cell wall, and no chloroplasts, but they do have lysosomes.

300

What is the goal of the first two stages of cellular respiration?

Glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle break down glucose to get electrons (NADH) to be used in oxidative phosphorylation for the electron transport chain to generate ATP

400

A researcher wants to test the affect of temperature on the speed of melting ice. What could be two potential controlled variables?

size of ice, source of water, container the ice is in, shape of ice

400

Explain the difference between primary and secondary succession, including their pioneer species

Primary: Change in community composition beginning from bare rock. Lichens break down rock to begin to form soil so larger plants can establish....

Secondary: Change in community composition following a disturbance like a fire or flood. Soil is still present so grasses establish first.

400

How can humans impact the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles?

We impact all cycles by consuming food and excreting waste that contains these. Humans impact the carbon cycle by burning fossil fuels and breathing out CO2. Humans impact the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles by overusing fertilizers.
400

What is the purpose of water and the sunlight in photosynthesis?

Water is split to provide electrons for the light-dependent reactions. O2 (oxygen gas) is given off as a byproduct. Sun energy excites the electrons to move through the electron transport chain, creating the ATP and NADPH that will power the Calvin Cycle

400

What is the purpose of oxidative phosphorylation?

Use electrons from the breaking down of glucose to generate tons of ATP

500

A researcher wants to test the affect of temperature on the speed of melting ice. Could there be a control group? Why or why not?

No, because a control group does not receive the indep variable and there's no way for ice to receive no temperature

500

What is sustainability?

Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

500

Where does all energy in an ecosystem originally come from?

The sun!

500

What is the purpose of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis?

It is the main input of the Calvin Cycle and is used to make glucose.

500

What is the purpose of oxygen in cellular respiration?

It is the final electron acceptor during oxidative phosphorylation. Without it, the electron transport chain will not work and ATP can't be produced.