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Biotic factors
food/prey, plants, bacteria, animals, disease
Abiotic Factors
Temperature, oxygen, sunlight, humidity, soil
Mutualism
both organisms benefit
Parasitism
both organisms benefit (bacteria in human digestive system)
Commensalism
one organism benefits, the other is not harmed (barnacles on whale)
The clever Honey-Finder birds lead humans to beehives so that human hands will open the dangerous beehive and expose the precious honeycomb for the bird access
Commensalism
Tapeworms are segmented flatworms that attach themselves to the insides of the intestines of animals such as cows, pigs, and humans. They get food by eating the host's partly digested food.
Parasitism
Mistletoe attaches to a tree and sends out roots that penetrate the tree and feeds off of some of the tree's nutrients and minerals.
Parasitism
Clownfish dwell among the tentacles of tropical sea anemones. The territorial fish protects the anemone from anemone-eating fish, and in turn the stinging tentacles of the anemone protect the clownfish from its predators (a special mucus on the clownfish protects it from the stinging tentacles).
Mutualism
A smaller tree in the rainforest receives less sunlight from an adjacent tree that is larger than it. Both of the trees need this sunlight in order to survive, reproduce and grow.
Competition
How do key stone species play a crucial role in the ecosystem?
They maintains a balance in the ecosystem
What are some examples of key stone species
Otters, American Alligators, Owls, Wolves, etc.
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
No 2 species can occupy the same niche (role) in an ecosystems, so only 1 will survive
What is the difference between habitat and niche? Use examples to explain.
A habitat is the place where an organism lives while a niche is that organism's role within that environment. For example, rabbits, and squirrels may live in the same habitat, but they have different niche’s because rabbits eat grass and squirrels eat acorns.
How can group behavior help increase the survival of a species?
Group behavior can help increase a species’ survival rate because it makes it more difficult to catch them.
Foraging is improved since there are more animals, more food can be found.
There is also enhanced reproduction and nurturement for the young
What makes an area biodiverse?
When there is a variety of different organisms each with their own unique niche that help stabilizes the ecosystem
What are limiting factors?
Factors that affect the growth/decline of a population (cause a population to change)
What are some examples of Density Dependent Limiting Factors?
Parasites, diseases, predation, and competition
What are some examples of Density Independent Limiting Factors?
Natural disasters (tornado or hurricane), weather (thunderstorm)
What type of curve and graph is this?
S curve, Logistic
What type of curve and graph is this?
J curve, exponential
Do logistic or exponential lines reach carrying capacity?
Logistic
Does an ecosystem with an exponential population line have limiting factors?
No, there are unlimited resources
Does an ecosystem with an logistic population line have limiting factors?
Yes, there are limited resources
What is the ecosystem hierarchy?
Organism —> Population —> Community —> Ecosystem —> Biome —> Biosphere
Describe the 4 spheres of Earth
Hydrosphere - All the water parts of the planet, water on and under the ground and in the air
Geosphere - The solid part of the Earth, including the rocks, minerals, and landforms
Biosphere - Land with biotic and abiotic factors
Atmosphere - The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth
How does photosynthesis and cellular respiration connects the 4 spheres of the Earth?
Plants in the biosphere receives sunlight and gases from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. (not finished)
What are the producers of this food web?
The tree, plant, and grass
What are the primary consumers in this food web?
Rabbits, Grasshoppers, bees, , deer
What are the secondary consumers in this food web?
The birds, mouse, hawk, and lion
What are the tertiary consumers in this food web?
The snake and hawk
What would happen to the ecosystem if insects were removed from the food web?
The population of birds, amphibians, and other that organisms feed on insects would decrease, after losing a vital source of food. That would then cause a domino effect on the secondary consumers and so on.
Name an herbivore
Rabbit, deer
Name an omnivore
Birds, mice, bears
Name a carnivore
Wolf, lion
Who has the most energy in this pyramid:
Oak bark —> Rabbit —> Wolf —> Bear
(Name the level not the organism)
The producer
Who has the least energy in this pyramid:
Oak bark —> Rabbit —> Wolf —> Bear
(Name the level not the organism)
The Tertiary consumer
Which organism has the highest biomass in this pyramid:
Oak bark —> Rabbit —> Wolf —> Bear
Oak bark
Which organism has the lowest biomass in this pyramid:
Oak bark —> Rabbit —> Wolf —> Bear
Bear
What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain/web?
It decreases down to the 10% of the original number at each level, 1000% —> 100% —> 10%
What is the ultimate source of energy for this food web?
Oak bark —> Rabbit —> Wolf —> Bear
Oak bark
What is the ultimate source of energy period?
the Sun
What role does bacteria and fungi play in an ecosystem?
They break down dead/decaying organisms which adds nutrients to the soil, aka detritivores
What processes add carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Respiration, fossil fuel combustion, and decomposition
Which human activity currently contributes the most CO₂ into the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels
What process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?
photosynthesis
How does atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) get converted to usable forms?
Nitrogen fixation
Which cycle does not have an atmospheric component?
Phosphorus cycle
What is the cause of all environmental problems?
Human population
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary - only bare rock is left, soil must be made from lichen & moss, comes from glacier recession, soil erosion, and lava flow
Secondary - Occurs faster because there is already soil, begins with shrubs & grass, comes form forest fire, floods, and polluted streams
How do nonrenewable fuels differ from renewable?
Renewable - unlimited, wind/sun
Nonrenewable - Limited, oil/soil/coal
Greenhouse Gasses
CO₂ , O₃ , CH₄ , SO₂ , CFCs , H₂O (water) vapor
which greenhouse gas is the most concerning?
CO₂
How does the tropospheric ozone differ from the stratospheric?
tropospheric - where we live, smog, result of manmade emissions, dirty
stratospheric - formed naturally, O₃ filters UV, must be protected, the “good” one
What greenhouse gas was believed to be responsible for breaking down the stratospheric ozone & its production was eventually phased out?
CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbons)
What impact has the use of pesticides in agriculture had on biodiversity?
Causes a decline in species diversity, short-term toxic effects on directly-exposed organisms, and long-term effects can result from changes to habitats and the food chain
What is biomagnification?
the rise or increase in the contaminated substances caused by the intoxicating environment
Explain ocean acidification and the effect it has on marine organisms and food webs
The ocean is becoming acidic, making it difficult for organisms to survive in these waters. They effect shelled organisms the most making the shell and themselves get smaller and weaker
What are invasive species and how do they effect local species and food webs?
They are non native species that increase competition between them and native species for resources (food), and they don’t have predators and can reproduce rapidly so they spread fast
Point Source vs Non-Point Source
You can trace back to the cause of point sources, you cannot with non-point sources
What are some consequences of climate change?
Rising sea levels
Loss of biodiversity
Unpredictable weather events (floods & storms)
Increase in diseases
Global food and water shortages
Note 
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