Science Subtest Ii & Iii: Ecology

Front 1

define biodiversity

Back 1

the diversity of life (how many individuals are present in a species, how many species in an ecosystem, how many ecosystems exist in an area etc.)

Front 2

decribe the effects on biodiversity of alteration of a habitat

Back 2

disrupts an ecosystems balance causing organisms to flee, adapt to new environment, or become extinct

Front 3

the loss of only a few species of plants, animals, or microorganisms can disrupt the balance that drives important processes such as

Back 3

gas exchange, soil fertilization, temperature regulation, etc

Front 4

two human causes of ecosystems becoming disrupted are

Back 4

increased pollution and decreased soil quality which can negatively affect human health

Front 5

lack of biodiversity can also

Back 5

induce the emergence and spread of infectious disease

Front 6

explain how loss of biodiversity can negatively affect human health

Back 6

potential medical treatments come from natural sources and the premature loss of different species elimates the possibility of new drug discovery

Front 7

Trophic levels are based on

Back 7

the feeding relationships that determine energy flow and chemical cycling

Front 8

Explain the importance and function of each trophic level

Back 8

Producers: mainly consist of plants
Primary consumers: herbivores that eat plants or algae
Secondary consumers: carnivores that eat the primary consumers
Tertiary consumers: eat the secondary consumer
Decomposers: consumers that feed of animal waste and dead organisms

Front 9

energy is ______ aas the trophic levels progess up the chain from producer to tertiary consumer

Back 9

lost

Front 10

Explain the pyramid of numbers

Back 10

It is a representation of the population size of each trophic level. The producers, being the most populous, are on teh bottom of this period with the tertiary consumers on the top with the fewest numbers

Front 11

Why is the stability of producers important

Back 11

producers are vital for the carbon cycle

Front 12

why is the stability of decomposers important

Back 12

they recycle carbon, complete ammonification (essential in the nitrogen cycle), add phosphorous back to the soil

Front 13

why is the stability of consumers important

Back 13

regulate/balance the amount of food, water, shelter, and space for other organisms

Front 14

predator/prey interactions

Back 14

Also known as predation-results in benefit for one speices and a detriment for the other
Predation is when an animal (predator) eats another animal (its prey)

Front 15

What is another form of predation beside a carnivore consuming other animals

Back 15

herbivorism is another form-animal (predator) eats a plant (prey)
does not always result in death of plant

Front 16

parasitism

Back 16

a predator that lives on or in its host, causing detrimental effects to the host

Front 17

example of parasitism

Back 17

insects and virsuses living off and reproductin intheir hosts is an example of parasitism

Front 18

competition

Back 18

when 2 or more species in a community use the same resources

Front 19

why is competition difficult to find in nature

Back 19

because it is not continuous. Either the weaker population will die or one population will evolve to utilize other available resources

Front 20

symbiosis

Back 20

when two species live close together

Front 21

example of symbiosis

Back 21

parasitism

Front 22

commensalism

Back 22

occurs when 2 species occupy a similiar space and ONE species may benefit from the other, NO harmful effects to either

Front 23

mutualism

Back 23

when both species occupy a similiar space and BOTH benefit from each other

Front 24

Species involved in mutualistic relationships must ______ to survive

Back 24

coevolve
As one species evolves, the other must also evolve if it is to be successful in life

Front 25

the number of individuals per unit area or volume is

Back 25

population density

Front 26

population density changes to reflect the

Back 26

rates of birth, immigration, emigration, and death

Front 27

when birth rates are high,

Back 27

population density INCREASES

Front 28

when death rates are high,

Back 28

population density DECREASES

Front 29

when birth and death rates are even,

Back 29

population density has reached equilibrium

Front 30

immigration _____ population density, emigration _______ it and when the two are balanced the population is _____

Back 30

swells
decreases
level

Front 31

more consumers in any one area utilize resources so birth and immigration both ______ supply

Back 31

drain

Front 32

emigration and death decrease the population and its density, allowing natural resources to

Back 32

replenish themselves

Front 33

How can changes in climate alter the ecosystem-provide an example

Back 33

Can alter the ability of organisms to grow
For instance, during drought conditions, plants that are less succulent are unable to maintain water regulation and perish. Organisms that fed on that particular plant must find a new food source or they will die off

Front 34

how can the introduction of nonnative species alter the ecosystem

Back 34

can effectively wipe out an existing or indigenous species.
problematic because they reproduce rapidly, spread over large areas, and have few or no natural controls such as disease or predators to keep them in check

Front 35

who is responsible for the introduction of many nonnative species

Back 35

humans

Front 36

provide an example of the harmful result of the introduction of nonnative species

Back 36

Introduction of the Zebra muscle.
these nonnative muscles are consuming the phytoplankton on which native species previously fed, and the nonnative speices are reproducing faster than the native species. Therefore the local food web is affected by a decrease in its lower level food supply

Front 37

how can changes in population size alter the ecosystem

Back 37

as populations increase in size, they consume more resources and excrete more waste. these behaviors are a drain to the ecosystem

Front 38

Living things in an ecosystem include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc.

Back 38

biotic factors

Front 39

If one population in a community increases, it affects the ability of another population to succeed by

Back 39

limiting the available amount of food, water, shelter, and space

Front 40

non-living aspects of an ecosystem include soil quality, rainfall, and temperature

Back 40

abiotic factors

Front 41

changes in climate and soil can cause effects at the beginning of the food chain, thus

Back 41

limiting or accelerating the growth of population

Front 42

during times of decreased light, plants break down the products of photosynthesis through cellular _________

Back 42

respiration

Front 43

glucose, with the help of oxygen, breaks down and produces

Back 43

carbon dioxide and water as wastes.

Front 44

approximately ____% of the products of photosynthesis are used by the plant for energy

Back 44

50%

Front 45

_______ is the process by which plants make carbohydrates from the energy of the sun, carbon dioxide and water

Back 45

photosynthesis

Front 46

Photosynthesis occurs in the ________ where the pigment chlorophyll traps sun energy.

Back 46

chloroplast

Front 47

the two major steps of photosynthesis are

Back 47

light and dark reactions

Front 48

sunlight is trapped, water is split, and oxygen is given off. ATP is made and hydrogens reduce NADP to NADPH2. Which reaction is this

Back 48

light reaction
the products of the light reactions enter into the dark reactions (calvin cycle)

Front 49

explain the dark reactions

Back 49

carbon dioxide enters during the dark reactions which can occur with or without the presence of light. the energy is transferred from NADPH2 and ATP allow for the fixation of carbon into glucose.