Ecosystems & Succession
The scientific study of interactions among organisms with each other and with the environment
What is ecology
These kinds of ecological systems (including the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, and carbon cycle) are so named because they describe cycles of LIFE, EARTH, and ELEMENTS.
What are BioGeoChemical Cycles?
This is one example of a resource for which different species compete.
What is food? water? shelter? mates? nesting sites? sunlight? soil?
Chicago is located around one of these two biomes (name one)
What is grassland?
What is temperate forest?
This is one way we can help to ensure that we (and others) have access to clean water.
What is pushing elected representatives for better policy? protecting our waterways from pollutants? filtering water? exchanging lead pipes for copper? investing in quality tap water?
These consumers will consume both plants AND animals for energy.
What are omnivores?
This is one type of fossil fuel, which takes millions of years to form from the decayed remains of ancient organisms.
What is natural gas? coal? oil?
A symbiotic relationship in which one individual is harmed but the other is benefitted.
What is parasitism?
This biome is typically a flat and treeless region of land that has a layer of permafrost
What is a tundra?
We can help slow down this human-created global phenomena by moving away from using fossil fuels and towards more sustainable energy sources.
What is global warming?
What is climate change?
On land, this type of succession occurs where no soil previously existed
What is primary succession?
What is photosynthesis?
A symbiotic relationship in which both participating individuals benefit
What is mutualism?
This biome is dense, warm, and wet, and it supports the greatest biodiversity.
What is a rainforest?
We can and should pressure our elected officials to protect our state and national parks, because trees are a critical part of this biogeochemical cycle.
What is the water cycle?
What is the carbon cycle?
Unlike producers (or autotrophs) this category of organisms get their energy by consuming other organisms.
What are consumers?
What are heterotrophs?
This phenomena is part of the Water Cycle, by which water evaporates directly from plants
What is transpiration?
Species that are brought to a new habitat by human means (may be purposeful or accidental i.e., tourism, travel)
What are invasive species?
This type of forest is home to a type of evergreen trees, so called because the trees bear cones.
What is a coniferous forest?
Our reliance on fertilizers can upset the delicate balance of certain ecosystems because fertilizers add too much of this element into this biogeochemical cycle.
What is the nitrogen cycle?
Within an ecosystem, the variety of organisms, their genetic differences, and where these differences occur.
What is biodiversity?
This necessary element makes up over 70% of our atmosphere, but most organisms are unable to use it in this form--we rely on bacteria in the soil to fix it into compounds usable by other living things
What is Nitrogen?
A symbiotic relationship in which only one individual benefits, but the other remains unharmed.
What is commensalism?
What is an estuary?
This is one of many actions I can take to reduce my carbon footprint.
TA choice.