High School Ecology Study Guide

Independent Variable

What you change in an experiment

Dependent Variable

What you measure in an experiment

Constants

What stays the same in an experiment

Control Group

The group you’re not testing, used for comparison

Experimental Group(s)

The groups you’re testing

3 abiotic components that predict what terrestrial biome will be found in a given area

Temp, precipitation, soil type & quality

3 abiotic components that predict what aquatic biome will be found in a given area

Salt, water, depth

Tundra

Extreme cold, permafrost, treeless

Tiaga/Boreal Forest

Low biodiversity, 1/3 of the world’s trees, acidic soil

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Lots of biodiversity, seasonality, eastern U.S. & Europe

Tropical Rainforest

No true seasons, highest biodiversity, lots of photosynthesis

Savannah

Grasses & spread out trees, wet/dry seasons, migration is common

Grasslands

Many big animals, very fertile soil, many lightning fires

Deserts

Dry, many reptiles, hot in day but can be cooler at night

7 Characteristics Of Living Things (Remember My Red Coat And Happy Green Hat)

Reproduction and heredity, Metabolism, Responsiveness, Adaptation and evolution, Homeostasis, Growth and development, Cellular organization

Homeostasis

Having a stable internal environment despite external changes

3 Biotic Factors of an Environment

Plants, animals, bacteria

3 Abiotic Factors of an Environment

Temp, water, sunlight

Levels of Organization (Old People Call Every Body Baby)

Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

Population

A group of the same species living in the same area

Community

A group of different species that live together in one area

Ecosystem

Community of living organisms and their nonliving environment

Symbiosis

Long term interaction between 2 different organisms living in close physical association

Commensalism

One benefits, the other is unharmed

Mutualism

Both benefit

Parasitism

One benefits, the other is harmed

4 Things That Decrease As You Move Up The Trophic Levels (All Big Numbers Shine)

Available energy, biomass, number of organisms, species diversity

Biomass

The total mass of living organisms at each trophic level

2 ways to increase population size

Immigration & births

2 ways to decrease population size

Emigration & deaths

Density Independent Factors

Not impacted by density

Density Dependent Factors

Impacted by density

Logistic Growth Model

Shaped like an S, population grows until it reaches carrying capacity, limiting factors, lack of abundance of resources

Exponential Growth Model

Shaped like a J, population grows at a constant, increasing rate

Primary limiting factors that contribute to establishing carrying capacity

Food availability, water supply, space, predation & disease, competition, etc

Type 1 Survivorship Curve (ex. humans)

Fewer babies, long life, most young survive to old age and die off late in life

Type 2 Survivorship Curve (ex. bird species)

Constant death rate throughout life

Type 3 Survivorship Curve (ex. plants)

Lots of offspring, most die young, the ones that survive live a long life

3 Components Of Biodiversity

Genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity

Genetic Diversity

Variations within a single species at the genetic level

Species Diversity

The variety of different species present in an area

Ecosystem Diversity

The different types of ecosystems within a region

Economic Value (ex. harvesting fish and trees)

The benefit humans get from the variety of life on earth

Ecological Life Support (ex. trees giving us oxygen)

How biodiversity indirectly benefits us

Recreational Value (ex. bird watching)

Appreciating what our ecosystems provide

Cultural Value (ex. sacred groves in India)

How nature shapes our traditions, beliefs, art & identity

Scientific Value (ex. studying different species)

Researching biodiversity to better understand life

Negative Value (ex. insects spreading disease to people)

When certain species or ecosystems harm people

Ecosystem Resilience

The ability to respond to change in an environment