Carrying Capacity Countdown
What is carrying capacity?
The largest population size an environment can sustainably support.
What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?
About 10%.
What is ecosystem resilience?
The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.
What is the main purpose of photosynthesis?
To convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose).
What are the four major biological macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Name one limiting factor that affects carrying capacity.
Food, water, shelter, predation, or disease.
What are the main producers in most ecosystems?
Plants and algae.
Give one example of a natural disturbance.
Wildfire, hurricane, flood, or drought.
Where in the cell does photosynthesis occur?
In the chloroplasts.
What elements are found in all organic molecules?
Carbon and hydrogen.
What type of population growth shows an S-shaped curve?
Logistic growth.
If producers have 10,000 kcal, how much energy is available to primary consumers?
1,000 kcal.
How does biodiversity affect ecosystem resilience?
More biodiversity increases resilience to disturbances.
What are the reactants of photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide and water.
How do living things use carbohydrates?
For quick energy.
What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?
Resources become limited, causing population decline.
Why are there fewer tertiary consumers than primary consumers?
Because less energy is available at higher trophic levels.
What happens if disturbances occur too frequently?
The ecosystem may not recover, leading to collapse.
Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis.
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Explain how atoms from food become part of body tissues.
They are rearranged into macromolecules through chemical reactions.
Explain how carrying capacity can change over time.
It can increase or decrease depending on resource availability and environmental conditions.
Why do ecosystems require a constant input of energy from the sun?
Because energy is lost as heat and cannot be recycled.
Describe how human activity can reduce ecosystem resilience.
Pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction reduce biodiversity.
How does photosynthesis support life on Earth?
It provides oxygen and energy-rich molecules for other organisms.
What process builds macromolecules from smaller subunits?
Dehydration synthesis (condensation reaction).