Science Intro & The Study of Life
Ecology Basics
Biogeochemical Cycles
Biomes & Ecosystems
Population Ecology
100

A testable explanation of a observation or problem is called _______________.

A hypothesis

100

What does a range of tolerance show?

Where an animal can and cant live because of limiting factors

100

What are the four biogeochemical cycles

Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

100

What stops trees from growing in Temperate grasslands?

Fire

100

The area where a population of organisms is found is called its __________

Range

200

When you design an experiment what you change/test is called ____________ and what you measure/watch/record is called _______________.

Independent Variable, Dependent Variable

200

What are the three ways to look at how energy moves in an ecosystem and describe them

Food Chain - selected organisms that show who consumes who in one direction, Food Web - all connections in an ecosystem of who consumes who, and Ecological pyramid - shows the amount of energy transfer from one trophic level to the next and the amount of biome mass at each trophic level

200

Which cycle does not take place in the atmosphere

Phosphorus

200

What abiotic factor impacts why there are trees in the Boreal Forest/Taiga but not in the Tundra

Permafrost

200

What is a k-strategist or give an example of one?

An organism that puts a lot of energy into its young, usually only has one or two babies at a time that are larger in size. (Elephant, Human, Horse)

300

When you sweat because it is hot, or shiver because it is cold this is..........

Maintaining Homeostasis

300

Give the three types of symbiotic relationships and generally describe what they are.

Mutualism (+/+), Commensalism (+/O), and Parasitism (+/-)

300

Order the biogeochemical cycles in order from most dependent on biotic factors to least dependent and explain why.

Nitrogen - It couldn't happen without bacteria

Carbon/Phosphorus (tied either is fine)- both rely on decomposition

Water - Could and would still happen without biotic factors

300

What are the three zones of a lake and how would you describe them? (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Littoral - Near the shore with lots of light

Limnetic - In open water but with lots of light

Profundal - Deep open water with little light

300

What are the two types of growth models and what general types of reproductive strategies do organisms have for each type?

Exponential - r- strategists

Logistic - k- strategists

400

What are the 5 parts of the scientific method? (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Observation, hypothesis, experiment, collect data, analyze data.

400

Compare things that are different in primary succession compared to secondary succession? (Team with the most correct will win the points)

1- Pioneer species (lichens and mosses)

2- Soil is created in primary and already there in secondary

3- Primary is slower than secondary

4 - Secondary comes from some natural disaster

400

Choose one biogeochemical cycle to draw completely

Water - Should show; Transpiration, Condensation, Evaporation, Precipitation, Percolation, Run-off, bodies of water, the atmosphere, and soil

Carbon/Oxygen - Should show; fossil fuels, Photosynthesis, Respiration, Combustion of fossil fuels, Diffusion, Decomposition, plants, animals, bodies of water, the atmosphere, and soil.

Nitrogen - Should show- Nitrogen fixation, denitrification, absorption, Decomposition, plants, animals, bodies of water, the atmosphere, and soil.

Phosphorus - Should show - absorption, drainage, Decomposition, loss to sediment, weathering plants, animals, bodies of water, and soil.

400

Write the three categories of Aquatic Biomes and give the aquatic biomes that fit into each category.

Fresh - Rivers/Streams, Lakes and Ponds

Transitional - Wetlands, Estuaries

Marine - Intertidal, Coastal Ocean, Open Ocean

400

List the two categories of limiting factors and give an example of each. (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Density-Independent (Fire, Natural Disasters, and weather)

Density-Dependent (Competition, Food availability, decease, parasites, and predation)

500

Give as many of the Characteristics of life as you can. (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Has one or more cells, displays organization, grows/develops, reproduces, respond to stimuli, requires energy, maintains homeostasis, adapts/evolves.

500

List the 6 levels of organization from largest to smallest and give a brief description of each. (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Biosphere - the whole world, Biome - similar ecosystems found around the world, Ecosystem - multiple communities with abiotic factors found in one geographic area, Community - many different populations found in one area, Population - a group of the same species living in one area, organism -  one individual.

500

What are the 4 biogeochemical cycles and give an identifying characteristic about each. (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Water - Least reliant on Biotic factors, involves (Transpiration, Condensation, Evaporation, Precipitation, and Percolation)

Carbon/Oxygen - Humans impact this cycle the most, a long term sink is fossil fuels) involves (Photosynthesis, and Respiration)

Nitrogen - Must have bacteria to do Nitrogen fixation and denitrification, Animals/Plants cant directly use Nitrogen in the atmosphere

Phosphorus - Only one not found in the Atmosphere, Has a long cycle (trapped in rocks and sediment) and short cycle (moving in soil, plants, animals, and water).

500

List all 9 Biomes and a defining characteristic about each biome

Tundra - Cold year-round with very short cooler summers, very little precipitation, no trees due to permafrost, lots of migratory or large animals

Boreal Forest (Taiga/Coniferous Forest) - Limited precipitation, conifer trees, short warm summers, long cold winters, overall very cool throughout the year.

Temperate Forest (Deciduous Forest) - Most of North America, has 4 separate seasons, wide ranges in temperature and precipitation throughout the year, a moderate amount of precipitation

Temperate Shrubland/woodland - Overall mild and warm climate, limited precipitation, more open areas with small trees or shrubs

Temperate Grassland - Limited precipitation, a wide range in temperatures throughout the year cold winters, hot summers, no trees due to fires, dominated by grasses

Savanna - A special grassland found in Africa mainly, it does have trees because it gets seasonal rain, warm all year round.

Desert - Extremes in temperatures hot or cold, very little precipitation, animals and plants must be adapted for heat and little water, dominated by abiotic factors.

Tropical Seasonal Forest - Lots of rain but only seasonally, warm all year round

Tropical Rain Forest - Lots of biodiversity, lots of rain and hot all year round.

500

What are the three ways to describe the dispersion or distribution of a population, and draw a representational picture? (Team with the most correct will win the points)

Uniform

Clumped

Random