Ecosystems
What are 3 examples of ecosystems?
Forest, Grassland, Tundra, Desert, Prairie, Savannah, Rain Forest, Taiga, etc.
Where does all of the energy in most ecosystems come from?
Sunlight
What is a food web?
Shows many feeding relationships that are possible in an ecosystem – multiple food chains linked together.
Food Chain - Sequence in which energy is transferred from one organism to the next as each organism eats the other organism.
What is the definition of evolution?
Change over time.
What is a population?
All the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.
What is a biotic factor? What are three biotic factors in an ecosystem?
Living
Producers, Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Decomposers
What percentage of energy transfers from one organism to the other?
Only 10%
What is a trophic level?
Each step in a food chain or food web.
What must happen in order for evolution to happen?
In order for a species to evolve, organisms with the new mutation / trait must reproduce and pass it on to their offspring.
What is a species?
Organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
What is an abiotic factor? What are three abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Non-living
Temperature, Light, Water, Salinity, Ocean Currents, Oxygen, Soil, Humidity, etc.
What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? Provide 1 example of each.
Autotrophs – Organism that makes its own food through photosynthesis.
Ex - Plants
Heterotrophs – Organisms that cannot make their own food and get energy by eating other organisms.
Ex - Humans
What is a keystone species? (we have not learned this, I ran out of questions, but read the name carefully and think about what it might mean. It is easier than you think)
A keystone animal is one that is so important because it holds the whole environment together. A salmon is a keystone animal for Idaho. Salmon are important because they travel. Idaho’s salmon go to the Pacific Ocean and there, they eat tons of plankton. They fill up on krill and come back to Idaho, bringing back all of those nutrients. Salmon feed so many animals. They feed people, otters, muskrats, bears, raccoons and more. Believe it or not, we can see it in the growth rings of trees when there has been a good salmon year. Salmon, for Idaho, is a keystone species because they are a part of so many food chains.
Why are some organisms more likely to survive that others?
Some organisms are more likely to survive because they have certain traits, lack certain traits, or engage in certain behaviors. Fitness.
What is a habitat? Why do organisms have a hard time surviving outside of their habitat?
Place an organism lives with specific abiotic and biotic factors that are necessary for its survival.
Organisms are best suited for their habitats and rarely survive for extended periods outside of their habitats.
What is the difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms?
Gymnosperms – Woody evergreens with needles that produce seeds that are NOT enclosed in fruits.
Angiosperms – Flowering plants that produce seeds in fruit; most land plants.
What is cellular respiration? Who uses cellular respiration?
The process of breaking down food in order to get energy. Cells use glucose and oxygen and create ATP (energy), as well as CO2 and H2O.
What is a decomposer? Provide 2 examples of decomposers.
Break down dead organisms and return nutrients to soil.
Bacteria and Fungi.
What is the difference between a vertebrate and invertebrate? Name 1 example of each.
Invertebrates – Animals that lack a backbone / internal skeletal structure.
Ex - Spiders, worms, snails, lobsters, crabs, insects.
Vertebrates – Animals with a backbone / internal skeletal structure.
Ex - Fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds.
What are the five levels of organization?
Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere
What is nitrogen fixation? Who uses nitrogen fixation and why is it important?
Nitrogen Fixation: Plants cannot use nitrogen in its gaseous form. Some bacteria convert nitrogen into mineral form so that it can be used by plants (nitrogen is used in genetic material and proteins).
N2 gas is converted into nitrogen compounds such as ammonia, nitrate, and nitrogen dioxide.
What happens in photosynthesis? What are the inputs and outputs?
Plants, algae, and some bacteria capture solar energy and convert it into carbohydrates (sugar).
Sunlight + CO2 + Water = Glucose + Oxygen
Sunlight + 6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O6 + 6O2
What are the names of the 4 basic levels of a food pyramid? List 1 example for each level.
Level 4: Tertiary consumers (carnivores)
Level 3: Secondary consumers (omnivores/ carnivores)
Level 2: Primary consumers (herbivores)
Level 1: Producers (autotrophs)
What are the six kingdoms of life?
Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Fungi, Protists, Plants, Animals
What is a niche? What all does it include? Provide examples.
The role / space an organism occupies in its habitat.
Includes diet, behavior, relationships with other organisms, etc.