Levels of Organization
Distinguish biotic and abiotic factors.
Abiotic: nonliving
Biotic: living
Describe the process of evaporation.
Water heats up and converts to gas form.
Define "population."
A group of one species in one place at one time.
What gas is taken in by plants during photosynthesis? What is released?
CO2 taken in
O2 released
Define "ecology" and give one example of something that an ecologist would study.
Ecology: the study of interactions among organisms and their environment.
What is the process by which bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates and nitrites?
Nitrification
What is the difference between a community and an ecosystem?
Community: biotic
Ecosystem: biotic and abiotic
How is carbon used by living organisms?
Carbon is known as the element of life. It makes up the backbone of major macromolecules: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, & nucleic acids.
Summarize the definition of all six levels of ecological organization in your own words, in order.
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
In the phosphorus cycle, explain how weathering and surface runoff contribute to the cycle of phosphorus throughout the environment.
Runoff transports water that can contain phosphates from crops into waterways.