EOCT Review

EOCT ReviewDomain IV - EcologyEcologyThe study of the interactions between living things and their environmentBiotic factors living organisms in an ecosystemPlants, animals, bacteriaAbiotic factors nonliving factors in an ecosystemClimate, light, soil, waterOrganization of LifeOrganism an individualA cowPopulation a group of organisms of the same speciesA herd of cowsCommunity several different species living in the same areaA herd of cows, insects, grass, trees Ecosystem all of the living and nonliving components of an areaCows, insects, grass, trees, rain, streams, rocksBiosphere the entire planet PopulationsPopulation density the number of organisms living in a given areaGrowth rate change in population sizeExponential growth under ideal conditions, with unlimited resources, the population increases exponentiallyJ-shaped curveLogistic growth as resources become less available, the growth of a population slows or stopsS-shaped curveCarrying capacity the maximum number of individuals an environment can supportPopulation Graphs

Limiting FactorsDensity-dependent limiting factorsThe more organisms there are, the greater the impactEx. Competition, predation, parasitism, crowdingDensity-independent limiting factorsThe impact is the same regardless of population sizeEx. Weather, fires, droughts, floods, human activities

Energy FlowProducers (autotrophs) organisms that make their own foodPlants, photosynthetic bacteria, algaeConsumers (heterotrophs) organisms that need to feed on other organismsTrophic levels each step in a food web or food chainFirst level is producers, second level is primary consumers, third level is secondary consumers, etc. Consumers Herbivore eats plantsEx. deerCarnivore eats other animalsEx. lionOmnivore eats both plants and animalsEx. raccoonDecomposer breaks down dead organismsbacteriaFood Chains and Food WebsShow the flow of energy and matter through an ecosystem

Question #1In the food chain below, which population will most likely decrease if snakes are removed from the food chain?

grassgrasshopperfroghawk

Energy PyramidsShow how energy decreases at each trophic levelThe total energy transfer from one level to the next is only about 10%Some of the energy is used by the previous organismSome of the energy is lost as heat

Other Ecological Pyramids

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle

Ecological SuccessionPrimary succession occurs on surfaces where no soil exists (no previous life)Glaciers, lavaUsually lichens and mosses are the first organisms (pioneer species) to move inSecondary succession occurs when a disturbance changes the existing community without removing the soilTornado, clear-cuttingClimax community the final, stable communityEcological Succession

ResourcesRenewable resource a natural resource that is replaced or replenished by natural processesplants, waterNonrenewable resource a natural resource that is available only in limited amountsSoil, fossil fuels, metalsReduce, reuse, recycleExtinctionExtinction the complete disappearance of a speciesThreatened species species that are declining rapidlyEndangered species when a species numbers drop so low that extinction is almost inevitablePollutionThe contamination of soil, water, or air and is the result of human activityPollutant any substance that is harmful or is a waste productAir pollution caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuelsAcid rain rain with a pH lower than 5Caused by air pollutantsPollutionWater pollution caused by contaminants from sewers, industries, farms, and homesEnters water sources such as lakes, rivers, groundwater, and oceansSewage, chemical wastes, fertilizersGreenhouse effectEarths atmosphere traps solar radiationKeeps Earth at a livable temperatureAn increase in the greenhouse effect (due to excessive greenhouse gases) is believed to be the cause of global warmingOzone layer prevents lethal doses of UV radiation from getting to EarthThe ozone layer is being depleted by CFCsQuestion #2The theory of global warming suggests that a trend toward warmer temperatures on Earth will cause glaciers to lose mass. A major consequence of glacial melting isflooding coastal regionsdestruction of fossil recordsincreased saltiness of the oceanincrease in atmospheric carbon dioxidePlant AdaptationsTropism a plants response to their environmentGeotropism response to gravityPhototropism response to lightThigmotropism response to touchPlant AdaptationsHormones chemical messengersAuxin causes cell elongationGibberellins growth hormoneCauses plants to grow taller, increases rate of germination and bud development, larger fruitFlowers and cones are adaptations that aid in plant reproductionQuestion #3What characteristic of some pine trees allows the species to survive disasters?modified leaves form needle bundlesseeds that germinate after firespollen that is easily carried by windbark that is lightly coloredAnimal AdaptationsBehavior anything an animal does in response to stimuli in its environmentInnate behavior inherited behaviorReflexes automatic responses that require no thinkingInstincts may take longer and may be a combination of behaviors (ex. Mating rituals)Territorial protecting or defending your territory (which contains breeding grounds, feeding areas, shelter, etc.)Reduces conflict, controls populations, decreases competitionAnimal AdaptationsMigration instinctive, seasonal movement of a speciesHibernation the body temperature drops, oxygen consumption decreases, breathing rates decreaseEstivation animals reduce the rate of their metabolism due to extreme heat, lack of food or long periods of droughtAnimal AdaptationsMechanical defenses physical structures such as claws, sharp tusks, stingers, and shellsChemical defenses chemicals such as poisons or toxinsCamouflage enable the organism to blend into its environment or appear to be something they are notQuestion #4A group of organisms of a certain species that is in one area at a given time is known as a(n)ecosystemcommunitypopulationtrophic levelQuestion #5As energy flows through an ecosystem, at each trophic level itincreasesdecreasesfluctuatesremains the sameQuestion #6Predators often feed on weak or sick animals in an ecosystem. The role of the predator is described as itscommunityhabitatnichepopulationQuestion #7The dodder is a land plant that parasitizes other plants. It grows in long thin strands that penetrate the host plant and absorb water, minerals and carbohydrates. Unlike other land plants, the mature dodder does not requirenutrientswaterairsunlightQuestion #8The state of California has several large cities and very productive croplands that divert and use large amounts of water from rivers. What is one damaging effect of this use of water from the rivers?Increased amounts of solid waste pollution in the oceansDecreased amounts of fresh water in marshes and estuariesChanges in local rainfall amountsChanges in upstream water tablesQuestion #9Plants that live in the rainforest have many adaptations to their environment. Some plants such as vines have adaptations which allow them to attach themselves to the trunks of trees. These adaptations allow vines to successfully compete for which of the following limiting resources in the rainforest?sunlightwatercarbon dioxideoxygenQuestion #10Lightning causes a fire that destroys all the plants in a forest community. Which of the following is most likely to be the first to occupy the burned area?oak seedlingspine treesgrasses and annual plantswoody shrubsQuestion #11Pilot fish and sharks have a relationship where the pilot fish eats bits of food that the shark drops or leaves behind. The shark is unaffected by the pilot fish behavior. Which of the following best roles describes the pilot fish?predatorherbivorescavengerparasiteQuestion #12Birds have been observed puffing up their feathers under certain conditions. By trapping air between the feathers, this behavior helps the birdhide from enemiesexpend less energy during flightshelter offspringtrap body heatAnswersDABCBCDBACCDInformation and Images Obtained From:http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx?PageReq=CI_TESTING_EOCT&SubPageReq=GUIDESGoogle image searchCampbell, Neil A. and Reece Jane B (2001). "6". Biology. Benjamin Cummings. Miller, Kenneth R. and Levine Joseph S. (2002). Biology. Prentice Hall.