Climate
What are gases like carbon dioxide and methane called when they trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere?
Greenhouse gases
What happens to soil when trees are removed from an area?
Soil erosion increases.
What type of relationship benefits both organisms?
Mutualism
What are dissolved nutrients?
Fertilizers but more specifically nitrogen and phosphorus (used by plants and algae).
Define biodiversity.
The VARIETY of living things within an ecosystem.
What natural process keeps Earth warm by trapping heat energy from the Sun?
The greenhouse effect
How does deforestation affect habitats?
It destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity.
What is Commensalism?
One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.
How can excess nutrients harm aquatic ecosystems?
They cause algae blooms that use up oxygen.
Why is biodiversity important for ecosystem stability?
Different species support balance and recovery.
How have human activities such as burning fossil fuels affected Earth's climate?
They increase greenhouse gases, causing global warming.
What is one major consequence of clearing land for human use?
Habitat loss or soil erosion.
What is a symbiotic relationship? (must come up with a clear and concise definition with your team)
A close, long-term interaction between two different species.
What happens to fish and other aquatic organisms when oxygen levels drop too low in water?
They can suffocate and die, creating "dead zones".
What might happen is a keystone species goes extinct?
It could cause a chain reaction that disrupts the entire ecosystem.
Why is the greenhouse effect important for life on Earth?
It keeps Earth warm enough to sustain life.
How can fertilizers from farms cause pollution?
Eutrophication or runoff carrying nutrients into waterways, causing algae blooms.
How does Parasitism different from Predation (predator vs. prey relationship).
In Parasitism, the parasite lives on or in a host and benefits without killing it. In Predation, one organism kills and eats another (ex: lion eating a zebra).
What is one long-term effect that water pollution could have on marine ecosystems? I am looking for a specific answer pertaining to habitat loss.
Death of coral reefs, ultimately disrupting food webs and biodiversity.
What type of data could scientist collect to test if scrubbers work?
Compare pollutant levels before and after scrubber use.
What is one major consequence of global warming?
Thinning of the ozone, melting ice, rising water levels, or extreme weather.
What is monocropping? What are two sustainable solutions that can replace this practice?
Diversified and customary farming.
Give one example for each symbiotic relationship: Commensalism, Parasitism, and Mutualism.
Commensalism: Golden jackals & tigers, barnacles & whales...
Parasitism: Fleas & Dogs
Mutualism: Bees & Flowers, Sharks & Pilot Fish
What are trophic levels?
They represent the pecking order of ecosystems, each comprising of organisms that share the same function within their food chain.
HOW DO WE SAVE THE ORANGUTANS?!?!
Replace monocropping with diversified and customary farming.