Module 2
Module 3
Module 5
Module 6
Module 7
100
What is the difference between biotic and abiotic? Give an example of each.
Biotic means a living factor (ex. tree) and abiotic means a non-living factor (ex. rain).
100
What is a climax community?
The community that is reached when ecological succession has reached equilibrium (i.e., not many population changes).
100
What are speciation and extinction?
Speciation is the creation of new species while extinction is the death of all organisms in a species, so the species no longer exists.
100
What is the primary atom upon which macromolecules are based?
Carbon.
100
What is an organelle?
A small structure with a specialized function within a cell.
200
What is an organism's range of tolerance? Give an example.
An organism's range of tolerance is the range of any factor within which they can survive (ex. human temperature range of tolerance is about 36-39 degrees Celsius).
200
How and why does latitude impact climate?
Latitude means how far from the equator a location is. The closer to the equator, the more sun it gets (as the Earth is round and so areas near the equator are closest to the sun). Areas near the equator are thus warmer than areas far from the equator.
200
Which type of biodiversity involves a variety of different characteristics of organisms within one species?
Genetic biodiversity.
200
What are the four types of macromolecules we talk about, and what are their main functions?
Carbohydrates (quick energy and short-term energy storage), lipids (long-term energy storage, cell membrane, insulation), proteins (cell functions including enzymes, transport, structure, etc.), nucleic acids (carry genetic information).
200
What are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? Give one example of each.
Prokaryotic = has no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, ex. bacteria
Eukaryotic = have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, ex. animal and plant cells
300
Bacteria live in your intestines and produce vitamins for you, while you provide them somewhere to live. What type of relationship is this?
Symbiotic.
300
Describe the difference between primary and secondary succession.
Primary succession involves settling a new rocky area where no ecosystem has been before. In primary succession, lichens and mosses break down rock which then forms layers of soil, allowing plants with shallow roots (like grasses and flowers) to break down soil further, then allowing plants with deep roots (like trees) to grow.
Secondary succession begins with a layer of topsoil already intact, and some seeds potentially still underground. It occurs when an ecosystem has been severely damaged or demolished, leading to a reset of the living community. It begins with the shallow-rooted plant stage, and then follows a similar pattern.
300
Give one example each of direct economic value, indirect economic value, aesthetic value, and scientific value.
Direct: cutting down trees to make and sell paper.
Indirect: bacteria in the soil fix nitrogen to give to plants.
Aesthetic: coral reefs are so beautiful that many tourists visit to view the fish and colours.
Scientific: scientists have been studying effects of cigarettes on sheep lungs as they are similar enough to human lungs.
300
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated have no double bonds, found largely in animals, are solids at room temperature.
Unsaturated have at least one double bond, found largely in plants, are liquids at room temperature.
300
State two organelles involved in the synthesis of materials in the cell and state their functions.
Ribosome - synthesizes proteins
RER - synthesizes proteins
SER - synthesizes lipids
400
Explain why there are so few consumers in higher trophic levels (i.e., tertiary or top predators), using energy consumption and transfer in your explanation.
10% of energy is carried over from one trophic level to the next, so organisms higher in the food chain need to consume many more organisms below in order to get the same amount of energy. This means the ecosystem cannot support many top predators or higher up consumers.
400
In the following climatograph, which month had the highest precipitation and which month had the highest temperature?
Highest precipitation in May (December close second) and highest temperature in July.
400
Choose one threat to biodiversity, define it, and give one possible solution an individual or government could enact.
Example:
Overexploitation is the over-hunting, fishing, or poaching of a species leading to reduced population.
Governments can put in place hunting seasons or protected areas to prevent people from killing or taking the animals.
400
Give two real-life examples of proteins along with their functions.
Keratin: structure of hair and nails
Insulin: regulates blood sugar
400
Where in a eukaryotic cell is there a highly acidic environment?
The lysosome.
500
State and define 4 matter transfers in the phosphorus cycle.
Geological uplift: rocks forming from underwater contain phosphate from sediment
Fertilizer runoff: rain carries fertilizer from farmlands into rivers and lakes
Leaching: water brushing up against rock pulls phosphorus from the rock into the water as the rock is worn down
Absorption: plants take up phosphorus from the soil into their roots
500
Which biome is found in middle lattitudes of many continents (i.e., USA, China, Australia, etc.), features plentiful grasses, and is populated by many large herbivorous mammals?
Temperate grassland.
500
What is the difference between habitat destruction and habitat disruption?
Habitat destruction is the physical damage of a habitat (i.e., cutting down trees, spilling oil, etc.) while habitat disruption is when one factor within a habitat is changed in some way and this leads to whole food chain impacts and/or collapse.
500
What are the main differences between DNA and RNA?
DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded; DNA has T, RNA has U; DNA carries genetic information, RNA codes for proteins.
500
What are the two structures that allow movement in some prokaryotic and animal cells? Describe their structure.
Cilia - only in eukaryotes, like little oars/hairs that push the cell along
Flagella - in prokaryotes and some eukaryotes, like tails that push the cell along