Introduction to Ecosystems

What is an ecosystem? Define it.

• An ecosystem is all of the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment. (Example: Oak Forest or coral reef)

What are the 5 components that an ecosystem needs to survive?

• Water, energy, mineral nutrients, oxygen, and living organisms

What is the difference between abiotic and biotic?

• Abiotic = nonliving parts of an ecosystem

• Biotic = living and once living parts of an ecosystem (plants and animals)

Define the following terms: organism, species, population, community, and habitat.

• Organism: an individual living thing

• Species: group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring

• Population: all of the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.

• Community: a group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other

• Habitat: the place that an organism lives (Ex: howler monkeys habitat is the rainforest)

What does carrying capacity mean? Explain.

• The maximum population size of a biological species that can be sustained by that specific environment, given the food, habitat, water, and other resources available. Every habitat has a certain amount of resources available to sustain life, the carrying capacity is just how many can successfully survive.

Label the biosphere from most specific to broadest level.

• Organism → population → community → ecosystem → biome → biosphere

What is biomass?

• The total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem at a given time. (shape = triangle / pyramid)

Energy 

What are trophic levels?

• Trophic levels are the position of an organism in the food chain. Can be anything from producers to consumers (primary, secondary, tertiary). Often used to build food chains, webs, and pyramids.

Where does the energy originate/ come from?

• All energy originates from the sun and is passed down and lost as it goes up the food chain.

What are producers, consumers, and decomposers?

• Decomposers (consume dead organisms), Producers (organisms that do photosynthesis) , primary consumer (animals that eat producers, herbivores), secondary consumer (animals that eat primary consumers, carnivores or both primary consumers and producers, omnivores), tertiary consumer (eat secondary consumers, can be omnivores or carnivores) = shape (pyramid)

What are the levels within consumers?

• Primary, Secondary, Tertiary (Be able to explain and draw the pyramid)

Food Chains and Food Webs

What does a food chain represent?

• Describes the energy flow between species in an ecosystem. 

• Begins with producers who use the energy from the sun to make food.

• Arrows represent the direction of energy flow, pointing from the organism being consumed to the organism receiving the energy.   (Ex: Plant → Beetle → mouse → owl)

Why do we use food webs and what do they show?

• Show groups of interconnected food chains

• Organisms within a food web can belong to more than one trophic level

What is an energy pyramid? What will it always have and where? What is the shape?

• A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy located within each trophic level.

• Producers are the foundation of all pyramids

• Most energy is used or lost as heat energy as it moves up the pyramid, therefore each level has less energy available than the level below. (only 10% of the energy produced at each level is available to the one above it)

  • (Make sure to know how to draw it)

Symbiosis

Define: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. (be able to identify these in word problems)

• Mutualism: both organisms benefit from the interaction

• Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other is not affected.

• Parasitism: One organism benefits the other is harmed

What is the definition of symbiosis? 

• An interaction between individuals of different biological species

What is cooperation?

• An interaction where organism work together (Ex: wolf packs)

Define competition. What does it look like?

• Two organisms compete for the same resources (Ex: food, water, shelter, etc)

• This could be when cheetahs and lions compete for food, they hunt the same of similar animals

Feedback Loops

What are feedback loops? Define and Explain. (Be able to identify them in a word problem)

• Negative feedback loops are a way of keeping a system in balance. When a change in one part of the system causes changes in the same direction in other parts of the Earth’s system, a positive, or reinforcing, feedback loop occurs.

What is the difference between positive and negative? Explain and draw them.

• A positive feedback loop amplifies the event

• A negative feedback loop stabilizes the event

Invasive Species

Define and explain an invasive species?

• A non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause environmental harm, harm to animals, plants, or humans, and possibly economic harm. They are often transported from other places by ship or vehicle, then begin to spread taking the nutrients from the native plants or animals.

Explain how each of the following species are invasive and elaborate on how they impact Washington’s ecosystem? (Brazilian Elodea, Apple Maggot, Northern Pike, Nutria, Purple Loosestrife, and African Clawed Frog)

• Brazilian Elodea: forms dense mats that choke out native species in lakes and ponds, it traps sediment, and hinders recreation. It has invaded 27 bodies of water in Western Washington.

• Apple Maggot: Adult maggots lay eggs inside of fruit, they hatch, consume the fruit, causing decay. This kills the fruit which we eat and it is a big part of our economy. 

• Northern Pike: non-native predator eats juvenile and smaller fish, limits the source of food

• Nutria: destroys more plant matter, destroys marshes, host to parasites and pathogens.

• Purple Loosestrife: grows quickly and destroys wildfires place to rest and build homes

• African Clawed Frog: can harm salmon populations and introduce harmful pathogens

Disturbances

What are 3 disturbances and how do they affect an ecosystem?

• Fires, landslides, flooding: Each of these disturbs or destroys an ecosystem. Be able to elaborate on HOW.

Define and explain ecological succession?

• A process of changing and replacing types of species in a community. This either happens after initial colonization of a newly created habitat, or after a disturbance substantially alters a pre-existing habitat.

What is primary succession? Secondary? What does it look like?

• Primary succession is when a new patch of land is created or exposed for the first time. (Ex: Lava cools creating a new rock, or when a glacier retreats). All organisms must start from scratch.

• Secondary succession is when a climax community is impacted by a disturbance. This starts the cycle of succession, but it is not back to the beginning - soil and nutrients are still present.

What are pioneer species?

• A pioneer species is the first organism to colonize a newly available area.

What is a biome?

• A biome refers to the community of plants and animals that occur naturally in an area, often sharing common characteristics specific to that area (The world’s major communities).

Biogeochemical Cycles:

Define biogeochemical cycle.

• Used to describe the movement of chemical elements through different media, such as the atmosphere, soil, rocks, bodies of water, and organisms.

Explain how the law of conservation of mass connects to energy.

• As matter moves through different media, the atoms may react and form new molecules, but the amount of matter remains constant. Energy in the ecosystem is transferred, flows, and changes form into energy and heat.

Explain how the 4 main cycles are connected to the water cycle.

• The 4 main cycles are interconnected with the water cycle. The movement of water is responsible for the leaching of sulfur and phosphorus into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Acid rain is responsible for pulling pollutants out of the atmosphere and into the soil and more.

Complete the carbon cycle diagram.

Describe how carbon cycles between the ocean, land, and the atmosphere using specific ideas.

• Land to Ocean = carbon is stored in the soil in the form of decomposing organisms and rocks. Carbon contained in soil can leach into bodies of water. Shells form limestone, and are brought back into the earth by subduction.

• Organisms to Atmosphere = CO₂ is converted into glucose through photosynthesis by plants, algae, and some bacteria. 

• Cellular Respiration releases CO₂ into the

atmosphere. 

Complete the nitrogen cycle.

Complete the phosphorus and sulfur cycles.

What is the equation for photosynthesis? What about cellular respiration?

• Carbon Dioxide (6CO₂) + water (6H₂O) → sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆) + oxygen (6O₂)   (Sunlight above the arrow)

• sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆) + oxygen (6O₂) → carbon dioxide (6CO₂) + water (6H₂O) + Energy

What is Eutrophication? Explain.

• Occurs when excess phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizer and runoff or sewage causes excessive growth of algae. These algal blooms block the sunlight, which kills natural aquatic plants which limits oxygen killing fish.

What are dead zones? Where are they formed?Where is the largest dead zone in the US located?

• Dead zones are large areas in lakes and oceans near the mouth of rivers that are periodically depleted of their normal flora and fauna, this often results in major fish kills. The largest dead zone in the U.S. is in the Gulf of Mexico (from the Mississippi River Basin)

Compare and contrast the terms anoxic vs. hypoxic.

• Anoxic = areas without any dissolved oxygen

• Hypoxic = areas that do not have enough dissolved oxygen

How does sulfur cycle between the ocean, land, and the atmosphere?

• Sulfur cycles between the ocean, land, and the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic matter, volcanic activity and hydrothermal vents, and finally the burning of fossil fuels by humans.

Fossil Fuels:

Define fossil fuels. What are they used for?

• Fuels that contain both carbon and hydrogen. (Coal, oil, and natural gas)

• They are burned for energy (human use)

How is coal formed? List the 4 types with the temperature and pressure trends.

• Coal is formed over millions of years, it is often found in sedimentary rock deposits, where rock and dead plant and animal matter pile up in layers. Over time they compress and form various types of coal. Contains mostly carbon.

• Peat → Lignite → bituminous → anthracite (heat, pressure, and carbon increase left to right)

What are the types of surface coal mining? How do they work?

• Surface mining uses large machines to remove soil and layers of rock known as overburden to expose the coal that is close to the surface. 

• Strip mining = overburden is removed from strips of land, then coal is removed, they deposit the overburden from the next strip onto the already mined strip.

• MountainTop Removal = overburden is removed with explosives, revealing a whole coal seam at once. Dump into the valley, then remove coal.

• Open Pit mining: a pit is dug and overburden is removed, then coal is extracted

What are the impacts of surface mining?

• Over Time multiple ecosystems are disturbed or destroyed. In each of these cases the initial ecosystem is wiped out and wherever the overburden is placed is also harmed. Runoff can also be a problem.

How do we mine oil? 

• Oil is drilled for. We use an air rotary drilling rig, then it is extracted using pumps. We use oil platforms (ocean) and oil rigs (land). The total amount of oil in a reservoir is called the oil-in-place. What can actually be extracted is called the oil reserves.

Explain developmental, exploratory, and directional drilling.

• Developmental: drilling in an area where oil reserves have already been found. Includes drilling new wells and expanding extraction technology. (Ex: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska)

• Exploratory: Drilling where there are no known reserves. Has a very high failure rate.

• Directional: drilling horizontally to a known oil source. (Veering the drill at an angle to access more resources)

How is petroleum refined? Draw the distillation tower.

• Process of converting crude oil or bitumen into more useful products such as fuel or asphalt. Unclean sulfur or sand is removed by heating the oil in a distillation tower. Propane, kerosene, and other components condense into various tiers and can be collected individually.

Explain the process of "fracking"?

• After a well is drilled, high pressurized water, sand, and chemicals are used to split open the weak shale rock. The sand props open the cracks, allowing the trapped gas to escape. The gas is brought up through the well and stored or transported. It requires large amounts of water and chemicals to complete this process which can cause low water tables and can contaminate drinking water.

What is horizontal drilling and acidizing?

• Horizontal Drilling: after drilling straight down the drill is turned 90 degrees and continues drilling, this allows for more gas to be extracted from the same well. Destroying less land.

• Acidizing: a process of using acidic compounds by inserting them into a natural gas well, these dissolve the rock and allow the gas to be released.

Origins of the Earth

Describe the difference between Young and Old Earth Creationism.

• Young Earth Creationists believe that the earth is 6,000-10,000 years old. They believe that the flood covered the whole earth, which accounts for the layers and scientific dating. The 6 days of creation were actual 24 hour periods of time.

• Old Earth Creationists believe that the earth is about 4.5 million years old. They follow science and believe that the flood only covered part of the earth. The 6 days are metaphorical and lasted more than 24 hours.

Define Evolution.

• A generation to generation change in the proportion of different inherited genes in a population that account for all the changes that have transformed life over an immense time. (The change of populations over time)

What is the difference between a theory and a law?

• A theory pulls together observations, inferences, laws, and hypotheses into coherent explanations. These are tested and supported with evidence. (Ex: Atomic Theory, Cell Theory) Theories are constantly amended, studied, and changed.

• A law explains how something happens, while a theory explains why something happens.

Who is Charles Darwin? Where did he travel? What was his theory?

• Charles Darwin was the “Father of Evolution.” He traveled on the HMS Beagle to the Galapagos Islands where he studied finches. He used his studies to write “The Origin of the Species.” His main ideas were that species produce more offspring than can survive, individuals compete for resources and mates, and finally those with the best traits produce the most offspring.

List and explain the 6 points evolutionists use as evidence. 

• Fossils: similarities between extinct and living animals (Ex: Horses)

• Homologous Structures: The forearms of vertebrates follow the same pattern, they have just adapted

• Vestigial Organs: Organs that seem to have no function (Ex: Whale pelvic bone)

• DNA and Biochemistry: More similarities are found in species that are closely related (Ex: humans / monkeys)

• Embryos: embryos of different species develop in very similar ways.

• Direct Observation: this is direct observation of species change (Ex: bacteria become resistant to antibiotics)

What is the big bang theory? Include evidence.

• Approximately 13.77 billion years ago, all matter and energy were created or put in motion by an instantaneous expansion. 

  • Everything started in one place and has evolved over time.

• Cosmic Background radiation: the energy that is released as matter and antimatter destroy each other and produce radiation and the faint remnant glow is left.

• Elemental Composition of the Universe: hydrogen (74%) and helium (24%) make up nearly all of the nuclear matter in the universe. Which is what was formed in the big bang.

• Doppler Red-Shift: proves that the universe is still expanding, this allows for the big bang, because it is constant expansion. We see red light which is what is seen when something is moving away from us.

What does Intelligent Design work to explain?

• They use an “intelligent cause” to explain the origin and beginning of life. This is used to replace evolution and the big bang, but not use “religion.”

Define microevolution.

• The change in gene frequency within a population. Changes on a small scale over a short period of time.

Define and explain the following ways microevolutionary change occurs: mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection.

• Mutation: creates a new genetic variation in a gene pool. (Deletion, insertion, substitution)

• Migration: the movement of individual into and out of a population

• Genetic Drift: the change in frequency of an existing gene variant in the population due to random chance.

  • Bottleneck Effect: occurs when a population suddenly gets smaller (Ex: forest fire)

  • Founder Effect: occurs when a few individuals start a new population (Ex: amish)

• Natural Selection: a blend of both chance and sorting

Explain and draw directional, disruptive and stabilizing selection.

• Directional selection  = favors one extreme

• Disruptive selection = favors both extremes

• Stabilizing selection = removes extremes

Define Speciation.

• The formation of a new species.

Explain the types of isolation. (Reproductive, behavioral, geographic, and temporal)

• Reproductive Isolation: occurs when a population splits into two groups  and the populations no longer interbreed.

• Behavioral Isolation: develop differences in courtship rituals or other behaviors.

• Geographic Isolation: occurs when populations are separated by geographic barriers such as a river or mountains.

• Temporal Isolation: happens when two or more species reproduce at different times.

Environmental Stewardship

Define stewardship. Connect this to the bible.

• The careful and responsible management of something entrusted into our care. In the bible we are called to be caretakers of the earth. This means that we have a responsibility to care for the WHOLE earth.

Define and explain the various types of renewable energy: hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, ocean, and biomass.

• Hydropower: 

• Wind:

• Solar:     “Explain how it works and the pros and cons”

• Geothermal:

• Ocean Energy:

• Biomass: 

Define carbon footprint.

• The amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses released into the environment because of the direct or indirect consumption of fossil fuels by an individual or group.

What is air pollution? What is smog?

• Air pollution is the introduction of other harmful gasses into the atmosphere. Air pollution can be solids, liquids, or gasses. Most air pollution is the result of human activity.

• Smog is when air pollution hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility. A result of a chemical reaction that includes sunlight, air, car exhaust, and ozone.

What is a temperature inversion and how does it work?

• A temperature inversion is when the air above the surface air is actually warmer. This means that the air does not circulate correctly. Warm air rises, but when cold air is trapped nothing moves. This means that the pollution that spreads out is also trapped.

Define conservation. What is farmland, rangeland, forest, and parks conservation?

• The protection, preservation, management, and restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.

• Farmland: land that is used to grow crops and fruit, it needs to be conserved and protected

• Rangelands: land that supports different vegetation types like grasslands, shrublands, and deserts. Usually used from grazing.

• Forest Lands: used to grow lumber to make everyday products (Know the Virgin, Native, and Tree Farms)

  • Selective vs. Clear Cutting

• Parks: used to protect endangered species and overhunting

How are cover crops beneficial? Explain.

• Controls erosion, suppresses weeds, reduces soil compaction, increases moisture and nutrient content, improves potential yield, and attracts pollinators. In order to help soil become healthier and more productive, cover crops are used.

Define wastewater. Why should we treat wastewater?

• Wastewater or sewage is the byproduct of many uses of water

• Pollutants need to be removed to protect the environment and public health. Eliminates waterborne illnesses, and limits oxygen depletion. 

Explain preliminary, primary and secondary treatment at wastewater facilities. 

• Preliminary treatment: (screening and pumping) The influent water goes through bar screens to remove debris.

• Primary treatment: Settling tanks are used to settle out organic material, floating solids are skimmed out

• Secondary treatment: (aeration and final settling) Air is added to the tank to keep the microorganisms alive to each organic material, then the settling tank is used to remove sludge.

Explain disinfection and sludge treatment. Why are they important?

• Disinfection: a chemical like bleach is added or a UV light is used to remove microorganisms from the water

• Sludge Treatment: the sludge is thickened, placed in digesters, create biogas, and compost

What does turbidity measure? Draw a secchi disk.

• Turbidity measures the level of particles in a body of water. 

What is the demographic-economic paradox? Explain.

• High infant mortality increases the population. Elderly people in extreme poverty depend on their children for substance, when people know their children may die, some may move away, or others will be unable to help, they tend to have more children.