Biosphere Study Guide

What does biotic mean?

Living things

What does abiotic mean?

Non living things

What’s the carbon cycle?

Process where carbon atoms move around the Earth and organisms

Describe how carbon moves around Earth’s reservoirs

Through photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, burn of fossil fuels

Which mechanism helps carbon to cycle from the atmosphere to living organisms?

Photosynthesis

Which is likely to have the most biodiversity?

A diverse ecosystem with different populations

What factor would have the greatest influence on the type of plants in each stage of succession?

Light availability and competition

What’s primary succession?

Ecological process where life begins in a lifeless area

What’s an invasive species?

Non native organism introduced to a new ecosystem

What’s the most likely effect a non native species could have on an ecosystem?

Decreases biodiversity and outcompetes native species

A scientist claims that the population of phytoplankton decreases as the population of zebra mussels increases. What could be the reason behind this?

Zebra mussels consume phytoplankton

Why is a reduction in biodiversity due to loss of plant populations especially destructive to an ecosystem?

Because plants are primary producers

The deadliest volcanic eruption recorded in history occurred. What is the likely reason for the abnormal weather conditions?

Volcanic ash blocked sunlight from getting through Earth’s atmosphere

What’s most likely to occur if greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere keeps rising?

Increase in Earth’s temperature

What role does water and air play in maintaining the stability of an aquarium ecosystem?

Facilitating esencial life support processes

How does high biodiversity contribute to the stability of an ecosystem?

Provides resilience, redundancy and complex food webs

What could most directly cause an increase in global sea levels?

Melting of glaciers and thermal expansion

How can carbon go form the soil to the atmosphere?

Decomposition or volcanic activity

Which way does carbon directly enter the atmosphere?

Through biological processes and human activity

What percent of energy from producers can be used by the primary consumer?

10%

What environmental change will cause an increase in the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere?

Increase in vegetation and sustainable agriculture

Which two data sources are most likely to be used to assess past climates!

Ice cores and tree rings

Why would a town ban fertilizing plants during a storm season?

To prevent fertilizers from being washed into waterways and causing pollution

What could happen if the Amazon rainforest was destroyed?

CO2 would be released into the atmosphere and extreme climate change

How does human urbanization effect biodiversity of ecosystems like the rainforest?

Decrease in biodiversity, pollution, and introduction of non native species

Which effect would most likely result from the clearing of massive forests?

An increase in carbon dioxide levels and less biodiversity

how can increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affect the ocean?

Ocean acidification and ocean warming

What’re the main carbon reservoirs in Earth?

Rocks

Ocean (deep water)

Fossil carbon

Sediments on sea floor

Soil

What’re three reasons why less energy is passed from trophic level to the next?

Metabolic heat loss

Energy used for life processes

Limited consumption