Ecological Concepts 1
What is one biome that will have a higher level of biodiversity?
Rainforest, coral reef
What is one biome that will have a low level of biodiversity?
Desert, Taiga, tundra
What started all life/evolution?
Big Bang Theory
Why do we need carbon for life?
All life is carbon based
What usually happens if oxygen is present for evolution?
Evolution occurs faster.
What are three major ways invasive species arrive to a new area?
Transported on or in cargo ships, pet trade, recreational human activities, and transporting materials from one area to another.
What kind of environment will produce a higher level of biodiversity: unchanging or changing environments?
Unchanging environments
Why do we need to be a proper distance from the sun to have life?
To have liquid water.
What is the problem with potentially colonizing Earth's Moon someday?
It has no atmosphere or water so we would have to bring nearly everything with us from Earth.
What is the problem with potentially colonizing Mars someday?
Its atmosphere is too thin and the atmosphere is not currently breathable.
Why do invasive species cause so many problems when introduced to a new area?
They do not have limiting factors they would have in their own habitat such as predators or limiting resources.
What are the four basic niches?
Producers, Consumers, Pollinators, and Decomposers.
Why do we need to have liquid water to have life?
The atoms and molecules need a medium to which they can move and interact with each other.
Why do we need nitrogen for life?
To make amino acids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
What is the outer space theory of how life evolved on planet Earth? How did we come up with this idea?
Life came from meteoroids from outer space. We found a meteoroid buried in the ice in antarctica that had organic molecules in it.
What is one place on Earth that has very high population density and one place on Earth that has very low population density?
High: Dhaka, New York City, Hong Kong, Tokyo,
Low: Rusk County, All of Greenland
In general, are ecosystems that have a greater biodiversity LESS or MORE fragile? Explain using the vocab term Niche.
If you have a greater biodiversity, you have multiple organisms who occupy the same niche so if one organism suddenly dies off, another organism will still be in place to maintain that niche and maintain the ecosystem.
Miller/Urey experiment, Thermal Vent Theory, Outer space theory.
Is oxygen necessary for life? Explain how we know.
No, we have found simple organisms on the bottom of the ocean that do not require oxygen to live.
What is the Thermal Vent Theory of how life evolved on Earth? Why is it a valid theory, explain.
in 1979 we discovered thermal vents released black smoke on the bottom of the ocean. The smoke released from these vents was very similar to the primitive conditions of Earth.
Additionally, the two most important pieces for life are heat and water.
What is the main thing that determines an ecosystem's level of biodiversity?
Abiotic resources.
What are the four major things that humans do to impact biodiversity and population density?
Overharvesting, Using herbicides/pesticides, Bringing invasive species, destroying habitats.
What are the four things needed for life to develop?
Proper distance from the sun, liquid water, carbon, and nitrogen
Put the Following in order from 1-4.
_____ These molecules become more and more concentrated in areas where water partially evaporated.
_____ Over millions of years these structures became more and more complex eventually reaching the point that they formed the structures that led to primitive bacteria. From there, evolution occurred.
_____ The primitive conditions of Earth led to the formation of all the molecules needed to make a living thing.
_____ These concentrated molecules would bump into each other and form more and more complex structures.
1. The primitive conditions of Earth led to the formation of all the molecules needed to make a living thing.
2. These molecules become more and more concentrated in areas where water partially evaporated.
3.These concentrated molecules would bump into each other and form more and more complex structures.
4. Over millions of years these structures became more and more complex eventually reaching the point that they formed the structures that led to primitive bacteria. From there, evolution occurred.
Where are 5 places in our solar system where life could potentially exist right now outside of Earth?
Mars, Ganymede, Europa, Titan, and Enceladus.