Standard 5 Review ALL - Ecology

Standard 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 - Basic Review 1
Organisms and their Environment

• Ecological organization

  • organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

• Coevolution and ecological relationships

  • herbivory, predation, competition, cooperation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, mimicry

• Energy flow and matter

  • Food chains, webs, pyramids

• Population Growth Patterns

  • Exponential and logistic growth, carrying capacity, density dependent and independent limiting factors

• Interdependence

• BIO.5.1 Illustrate levels of ecological hierarchy, including organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.

• BIO.5.4 Develop and use models to describe the flow of energy and amount of biomass through food chains, food webs, and food pyramids.

• BIO.5.5 Evaluate symbiotic relationships (e.g., mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism) and other coevolutionary (e.g., predator-prey, cooperation, competition, and mimicry) relationships within specific environments.

• BIO.5.6 Analyze and interpret population data, both density-dependent and density-independent, to define limiting factors. Use graphical representations (growth curves) to illustrate the carrying capacity within ecosystems.

Biotic Factors

• living parts of an ecosystem

  • plants, animals, bacteria, mushrooms, mosquitos…

Abiotic Factors

• nonliving parts of an ecosystem

  • rock, temperature, water, soil, energy, pH

​INCLUDE ONLY BIOTIC FACTORS

ORGANISM

• ​an individual living thing

• Ex. one goldfish

POPULATION

• ​a group of the same species at the same place and time

• Ex. all of the goldfish in a lake

COMMUNITY

• ​all of the different populations living in the same place at the same time

• Ex. All of the goldfish, starfish, aquatic plants...in a lake

​

Drag and Drop

Frogs, fish, insects, and plants all living together in the same pond - ​

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One frog sitting on a lily pad - ​

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A group of frogs living in the same pond - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

community

organism

population

​INCLUDE BOTH BIOTIC & ABIOTIC FACTORS

ECOSYSTEM

• ​​All of the living things and their nonliving environment at the same place and time

• Ex. all of goldfish, starfish, aquatic plants...and their nonliving environment in a lake

BIOME

• ​​All ecosystems with similar climates

BIOSPHERE

• ​​​All places on earth where life exists

• Ex. all of Earth’s ecosystems

Drag and Drop

Deer, trees, birds, and foxes all living in the same forest. - ​

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A group of deer living in the same forest. - ​

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Deer, trees, birds, foxes, sunlight, soil, water, and temperature in the same forest. - ​

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One deer walking through the forest. - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

community

population

organism

ecosystem

Herbivory +/-

• animals eating plants

• Autotrophs

  • use light energy to make their own food

• Heterotrophs

  • must consume other organisms for food

Predation +/-

• animals consuming animals

• Predator

  • organism hunts for food

• Prey

  • organism killed and consumed for food

Carnivores

• animals that only eat animals

• ex. lions only eat other animals

Herbivores

• animals that only eat plants

• ex. deer only eat plants

Omnivores

• animals that only both plants and animals

• ex. bears eat berries and fish

Drag and Drop

Order of ecological organization from least to most complex:

​ ​

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> ​ ​

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>​

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> ​

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> ​ ​ Biome > Biosphere

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Community

Ecosystem

Population

Organism

Drag and Drop

Raccoons eat fruits, acorns, young rabbits and bird eggs - ​

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Elephants eat bark, leaves, small branches, roots, grasses, and fruit - ​

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Lions eat zebras and wildebeests - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Omnivore

Herbivore

Carnivore

Camouflage

• resembling something that blends in with your surroundings

• ex. leaf bug; stick bug

Mimicry

• one organism (the mimic) evolves traits to resemble another organism to gain a survival advantage

• ex. harmless snake looks like venomous snake

Self-mimicry

• one part of an animal resembles another part of its body

• ex. eye spots on fish; head and tail on snake look alike

Dropdown

A nonvenomous king snake's scale coloration resembles a venomous coral snake - ​

Select answer

A squirrel's fur resembles the tree it lives in - ​

Select answer

Drag and Drop

A butterfly has eyespots on its tail - ​

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A hoverfly has the same coloration as a bee - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

self-mimicry

mimicry

Competition +/-

• one competitor must develop a competitive advantage over the other for resources

• ​many male animals fight each other for food and/or mating opportunities

Cooperation +/+

• organisms learn to help and depend on each other

• e.x dolphins herd fish together so they can easily trap and eat them

• ex. animals feeding their young

Dropdown

The roots of a spinach plant and a tomato plant fight for the water in the soil - ​

Select answer

A lion kills an antelope for food - ​

Select answer

Dropdown

Lions and Cheetahs live in the same habitat and hunt the same prey - ​

Select answer

Ants work together to take care of the colony - ​

Select answer

MUTUALISM +/+

• Both organisms benefit

• Ex. Flower gets pollinated, humming bird gets food

• Ex. Alligator and bird - bird gets meal, alligator gets teeth cleaned

COMMENSALISM +/0

• One organism benefits, other is not affected

• Ex. Sucker fish and shark - sucker fish attaches to shark and gets leftovers

  Shark is not affected

• Ex. Barnacles on whale

PARASITISM +/-

• One organism benefits, other is harmed

• Parasite lives in or on host

• Ex. Fleas get a meal, the dog loses blood and is harmed

Multiple Choice

What term refers to a close relationship between different species where one benefits and the other is harmed?

• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Mutualism
• Competition

Drag and Drop

Cattle egrets ride on the backs of grazing animals to catch insects exposed while they graze, cows not bothered. This relationship is called ​

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.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers and pollinate them in the process. This relationship is called ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

mutualism

commensalism

Drag and Drop

Vine grows on tree to get light, tree doesn't care - ​

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False widow spiders look like deadly black widow spiders - ​

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Chameleon coloration blends in to hide from the flies it catches to eat - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Mutualism

Predation

commensalism

mimicry

camouflage

parasitism

Nutrients (matter) are cycled in an ecosystem - used over and over

• carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen..,

Energy flows in one direction, and is not cycled

• Most energy is used or lost as heat

​10%

Multiple Choice

What part of an environment that is not cycled but mostly lost as heat?

• Water
• Energy
• Nutrients

PRODUCERS (autotrophs)

• organisms that use energy from the sun to make food (plants)

• convert light energy (Sun) into chemical energy (sugar)

• has the most energy available and greatest biomass

• plants, cyanobacteria, algae

CONSUMERS (heterotrophs)

• organisms that get energy by eating other organisms

• animals; most bacteria, fungi

PRIMARY
CONSUMERS

• Herbivores - only eat producers (plants)

• cows, rabbits, and deer

TERTIARY
CONSUMERS

• eat secondary consumers

• Carnivores

• Top Predator

• Top Consumer

• Has least available energy

SECONDARY CONSUMERS

• eat primary consumers

• Omnivores - eat plants and animals

• Carnivores - only eat animals

Dropdown

Sun > Grass > Grasshopper > Bird > Snake

Producer = ​

Select answer

Primary Consumer = ​

Select answer

Secondary Consumer = ​

Select answer

Decomposers

• Bacteria and Fungi that chemically break down dead and decaying matter and put nutrients back into the soil

• Plants must have these nutrients to grow

​

Multiple Choice

How do decomposers help other organisms in an ecosystem?

• They break down dead organisms and add nutrients back to the soil that plants use.

• They use the sunlight to make their own food that other organisms eat for energy.

• They help disperse seeds for plant growth.

• Decomposers do not help other organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Chain

• simple linear diagram showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem

• Arrow points in the direction energy is moving

Food Web

• complex diagram that shows many interweaving food chains

​Sun

Producer

Primary
Consumer

Secondary
Consumer

Tertiary
Consumer

Quaternary
Consumer

Hotspot

Click the food chain that has the correct arrows.

​Label the Food Chain

​

Producer

​Sun

Primary
Consumer

Quaternary
Consumer

Tertiary
Consumer

Secondary
Consumer

​Label the Food Chain

​A Trophic Level is each step in a food chain or food web

• Indicates how many times energy is transferred or how much biomass is available

Level 0

• Sun

• Main energy source for life

• Light Energy

Level 1

• Producers

• Most available energy and biomass

Level 2

• Primary Consumers

Level 3

• Secondary Consumers

Level 4

• Tertiary Consumers

• Least available energy and biomass

Labelling

Label the trophic levels.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

1

2

3

0

4

5

Trophic Level 1 - Bottom

• Always producers

• Most available energy and biomass

Trophic Level 4/5 - Top

• Always predator

• Least available energy and biomass

Energy and Biomass

• decrease as you move to next level

• only 10% is transferred to next level

• the rest is used or lost

Dropdown

Producers are always found at the ​

Select answer

of a trophic pyramid

The Apex Predator always found at the ​

Select answer

of a trophic pyramid

Dropdown

Producers have the ​

Select answer

energy available

The apex predator has the ​

Select answer

available energy

Dropdown

​

Select answer

have the most available energy.

​

Select answer

have the least available energy.

​Energy Pyramid

​Producers - 50,000J

​Primary Consumers - 5,000 J

​Secondary Consumers - 500 J

​Tertiary Consumers - 50 J

​Energy Pyramid

Labelling

Label the transfer of energy correctly on the energy pyramid.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

50,000 J

5 J

500 J

5,000 J

50 J

Increasing Population Size

• Birth Rate (natality)

  • organisms being born

• Immigration

  • organisms moving into a population

Decreasing Population Size

• Death Rate (mortality)

  • organisms dying

• Emigration

  • organisms moving out of a population

LIMITING FACTORS

• Any resource or environmental condition that slows the growth of a population

• 2 Types:

  • Density Dependent

  • Density Independent

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the relationship between birth rate and death rate in a growing population?

• The birth rate is equal to the death rate, so the population stays the same.

• The birth rate is less than the death rate, so the population decreases.

• The birth rate is greater than the death rate, so the population increases.

• The birth rate and death rate have no effect on population size.

Multiple Choice

How do immigration and emigration affect the size of a population?

• Immigration increases population size, while emigration decreases it.

• Immigration decreases population size, while emigration increases it.

• Immigration and emigration both decrease population size.

• Immigration and emigration have no effect on population size.

Exponential Growth

• grows without limit

• new population that initially has

• unlimited resources

• few or no predators

• very little competition for resources

• J-shaped curve

Logistic Growth

• natural growth

• grows quickly at first then levels off

• slowed by limiting factors

• S-shaped curve

• Has a Carrying capacity

  • number of organisms an ecosystem can support

Labelling

Label the growth curve.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

carrying capacity

fast growth

slow growth

Labelling

Label the growth curve.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

fast growth

carrying capacity

slow growth

DENSITY INDEPENDENT

• Limiting factors that affect a population regardless of its size or density. All species equally affected

• temperature - abiotic

• unusual weather - abiotic

  • flood, hurricane, tornado, drought

• oxygen levels - abiotic

• sunlight - abiotic

• natural disasters - abiotic

• human activities - anthropogenic

  • habitat destruction; pollution

  • deforestation

  • overhunting

DENSITY DEPENDENT

• Limiting factors that increase in effect as a population grows larger or denser.

  • competition - biotic

  • overcrowding - biotic

  • predation - biotic

  • parasitism - biotic

  • disease - biotic

    • bacteria/viral infection

  • food supply - biotic

  • water availability - abiotic

  • waste accumulation - abiotic

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limiting factor?

• Competition for food

• A contagious disease

• A wildfire

• Predation by wolves

Multiple Choice

Which graph represent the change in black bear population if a drought reduces the number of blueberry bushes in Pickens county?

• The number of organisms an ecosystem can support

• Population growth is limited by limiting factors

  • resources, predation, weather, disease...

Carrying Capacity

Slow Growth

Slow Growth

Fast Growth

Multiple Choice

What happens to a population when it reaches the carrying capacity of its environment?

• The population continues to grow without limits.

• The population crashes and becomes extinct.

• The birth rate becomes higher than the death rate.

• The population levels off as resources become limited.

Multiple Choice

Based on the graph, what does the leveling off of the deer population around 500 most likely represent?

• The number of predators in the area

• A decrease in the birth rate only

• The forest’s carrying capacity for deer

• The start of an extinction event

Multiple Choice

A population of raccoons in a Mississippi wetland is growing rapidly.

At first, the population increases exponentially, but over time the growth slows and levels off.

What most likely caused the change from exponential to logistic growth?

• A sudden increase in birth rate

• A decrease in predator populations

• The presence of limiting factors like food and space

• The migration of raccoons from other areas

Multiple Choice

A lake in Mississippi is stocked with a new species of fish.

Over the first few years, the fish population grows rapidly.

After a while, the growth slows and the population levels off.

What most likely explains this shift from exponential to logistic growth?

• The fish ran out of genetic variation.

• Predators stopped hunting the fish.

• Resources like oxygen and food became limited as the population grew.

• The fish evolved to stop growing after a certain number of years.

• Producers have the most effect on all organisms in an ecosystem

• ​A decrease producers will affect ALL organisms in a food web

• ​A decrease in sunlight or rainfall will decrease the number of producers

​Decrease in Producers

• If a primary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of producers will increase.

  • Less Grasshoppers, Mice, or Rabbits > more Grass

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of producers will decrease.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards means more Grasshoppers, Mice, or Rabbits > less Grass

​Decrease in Primary Consumers

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of primary consumers will increase.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards > more Grasshoppers and Mice

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of tertiary consumers will decrease.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards > less Hawks

​Decrease in Secondary Consumers

Multiple Choice

What is the most likely effect of removing a top predator, like a bobcat, from a Mississippi forest ecosystem?

• Prey populations will decrease, and plant life will thrive.

• Prey populations will increase, leading to overgrazing and less plant life.

• Other predators will stop hunting to avoid competition.

• The ecosystem will remain stable and unaffected.

• As the prey population increases the predator population increases (but lags behind).

• When the prey population exceeds carrying capacity, the prey population decreases.

• Since the predators primarily depend on the prey as their main food source, their population decreases as well (but lags)

• More prey survive due to more food and less predators

• More predators are born and survive due to more prey available...

Predator-Prey Cycle (boom-bust cycle)

Multiple Choice

What usually happens to a predator population when the prey population decreases?

• The predator population increases because there is more competition.

• The predator population decreases due to a lack of food.

• The predator population stays the same regardless of prey numbers.

• The predator population becomes more genetically diverse.

Standard 5.2, 5.3, 5.7 - Basic Review 2
Changes in the Environment

• Biogeochemical cycles

  • water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycles, bacteria

• Greenhouse Effect

  • Greenhouse gases, climate change

• Succession

  • Primary and secondary succession, pioneer species, climax community

• BIO.5.2 Analyze models of the cycling of matter (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water) between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem and evaluate the ability of these cycles to maintain the health and sustainability of the ecosystem.

• BIO.5.3 Analyze and interpret quantitative data to construct an explanation for the effects of greenhouse gases on the carbon dioxide cycle and global climate.

• BIO.5.7 Investigate and evaluate factors involved in primary and secondary ecological succession using local, real world examples.

Matter Cycles

• Matter (not energy) is recycled in ecosystems between abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) parts of the environment.

​

Water Cycle

• Abiotic to Biotic: Plants take in water from soil; animals drink water

• Biotic to Abiotic: Transpiration, excretion, and respiration release water vapor

• Water moves by evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration

Water INTO Living Things

• Root Absorption - water is taken in by plants - abiotic > biotic

• Drinking - animals take in water

Water OUT of Living Things

• Transpiration - water vapor is released from the leaves of plants - biotic > abiotic

• Exhalation, Perspiration, Urination - water is released from animals - biotic > abiotic

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Based on the water cycle, which component is the direct result of both abiotic and biotic processes?

• Evaporation from lakes

• Condensation forming clouds

• Transpiration from plant leaves

• Precipitation as rain or snow

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

What is the role of transpiration in the water cycle?

• Transporting water underground to aquifers

• Releasing water vapor into the atmosphere from plant leaves

• Causing clouds to form from rising warm air

• Producing precipitation that returns water to the land

Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen OUT of the Atmosphere

  • Nitrogen Fixation - Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria in soil or root nodules convert nitrogen gas → ammonia; Abiotic → Biotic

  • Nitrification - Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia → nitrites → nitrates (NO₃⁻) which plants can use

• Nitrogen INTO Living Things

  • Assimilation - Plants absorb nitrates from soil to build proteins and DNA - Abiotic > Biotic

  • Consumption - Animals eat plants, gaining nitrogen - Biotic > Biotic

• Nitrogen OUT of Living Things

  • Decomposition - Decomposers break down dead organisms and waste → release ammonia into soil - Biotic → Abiotic

• Nitrogen INTO the Atmosphere

  • Denitrification - Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates → Nitrogen gas, returning it to atmosphere - Abiotic → Biotic

​BACTERIA!

​Bacteria

​Bacteria

​Bacteria

​Bacteria

​Bacteria

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

• Converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants

• Breaking down dead organisms and releasing ammonium into the soil

• Transforming nitrates back into nitrogen gas

• Absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a stage of the nitrogen cycle?

• organisms breathe in nitrogen gas
• organisms release nitrogen compounds via waste or decomposition
• bacteria convert unusable nitrogen to usable nitrogen
• plants absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Antibiotics in soil can kill bacteria involved in key nitrogen cycle processes.

Which outcome is most likely if nitrogen-fixing bacteria are reduced?

• Decreased nitrogen fixation, reducing the amount of usable nitrogen in the soil

• Increased nitrogen gas returning to the atmosphere through denitrification

• More nitrogen compounds in the soil due to reduced reliance on nitrogen-fixing bacteria

• Higher nitrogen fixation, causing excess nitrogen to be released into the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

Atmospheric nitrogen has to be combined with other elements, or fixed, in order to be used by plants.

Lightning is one way that nitrogen is fixed. When lightning occurs, the extreme heat breaks the bonds in nitrogen molecules, allowing nitrogen to combine with oxygen and form nitrogen oxides.

 In what way is most of the nitrogen fixed by lightning made available for use by plants? 

• It is moved by the wind toward dry areas.

• It is incorporated into the exoskeletons of flying insects that eat plants.

• It is inhaled and exhaled by birds roosting in trees during rainstorms.

• It is carried by rain to the soil.

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Which component is a direct component of abiotic and biotic activities in this cycle?

• nitrates

• nitrites

• ammonium

• atmospheric nitrogen

Phosphorus Cycle

• Phosphorus OUT of Abiotic Sources

  • Weathering - Rain and wind break down rocks → release phosphate (PO₄³⁻) into soil and water

    • Abiotic → Abiotic

• Phosphorus INTO Living Things

  • Absorption / Assimilation - Plants absorb phosphate from soil through roots - Abiotic → Biotic

  • Consumption - Animals eat plants → phosphorus moves up the food chain - Biotic → Biotic

    • Animals drink water with dissolved phosphate in it

• Phosphorus OUT of Living Things

  • Decomposition - Decomposers break down dead plants/animals → return phosphorus to soil or sediments - Biotic → Abiotic

• Phosphorus INTO Abiotic Sources

  • Sedimentation - In water, phosphate settles and forms new rock layers over time

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

What is the role of weathering of rocks in the phosphorus cycle?

• It allows phosphorus to cycle between the atmosphere and organisms

• It transforms phosphorus into nitrogen for plant uptake

• It releases phosphate into the soil where it becomes available to plants

• It stores phosphate in the form of fossil fuels for long-term energy use

Multiple Choice

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for living organisms, often absorbed by plants from the soil in the form of phosphate. Some soil bacteria help break down organic material to release phosphorus into forms that plants can use.

How would increased use of antifungal or antibacterial chemicals in agriculture most likely affect the phosphorus cycle?

• By decreasing the breakdown of organic material, leading to lower phosphate availability for plants

• By speeding up rock weathering and increasing phosphate levels in groundwater

• By eliminating the need for decomposers in releasing phosphorus from rocks

• By causing phosphorus to cycle more rapidly between the biosphere and the geosphere

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Based on the diagram, which component is a direct result of abiotic and biotic interactions in the phosphorus cycle?

• Phosphate in animal tissues

• Phosphate released by weathered rocks

• Phosphate in decomposers

• Phosphate absorbed by plant roots

Eutrophication

• Overuse of fertilizer (nitrogen / phosphate) or animal waste dissolves in rainwater and runoff occurs into ponds and lakes

• This leads to rapid algae growth (algal bloom) and depletion of oxygen in pond killing aquatic life

Drag and Drop

Eutrophication is a process that occurs when excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, wash into a body of water. This causes a rapid ​

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in the algae (algal bloom). When these algae die, ​

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break them down, a process that consumes most of the available ​

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in the water, leading to fish kills.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

increase

decomposers

oxygen

carbon

decrease

Carbon Cycle

Carbon OUT of the Atmosphere

• Photosynthesis - plants convert CO₂ in the air into glucose - biotic > abiotic

• Oceans absorb CO₂ from the air

Carbon INTO the Atmosphere

• Respiration - all organisms convert glucose into CO₂ in the air - biotic > abiotic

• Burning Fossil Fuels adds more CO₂ to the air

• Decomposition adds more CO₂ to the air - biotic > abiotic

• Deforestation reduces the number of trees that can absorb CO₂

Consumption - animals eating moves carbon through the food web - biotic > biotic

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

What is the role of photosynthetic organisms in the carbon cycle?

• Breaking down carbon compounds and releasing methane into the atmosphere

• Converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic molecules

• Storing carbon in inorganic rock formations

• Releasing carbon dioxide by feeding on dead organisms

Labelling

Label the diagram with the correct process that is occurring in the carbon cycle

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Cellular Respiration

Fossil Fuels

Combustion

Photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Which of the following add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

• volcanoes
• combustion of fossil fuels
• animal and plant respiration
• all of these

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Plants play a key role in the carbon cycle by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing carbon in their tissues.

How would a large-scale reduction in plant populations most likely affect the carbon cycle?

• By increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels due to decreased photosynthesis

• By reducing the amount of carbon stored in fossil fuels underground

• By increasing the number of decomposers that remove carbon from the atmosphere

• By causing an immediate increase in the amount of carbon fixed by animals

Multiple Choice

Analyze the diagram.

Based on the carbon cycle, which component is a direct result of both biotic and abiotic processes in the environment?

• Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• Glucose in plant tissues

• Limestone (calcium carbonate) in sediment

• Fossil fuel formation underground

• Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere

  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂ - main one), methane, water vapor

• Greenhouse Effect is the warming of the Earth caused by greenhouse gases.

  • Necessary for life to exist on Earth!

• Evidence - Carbon Dioxide measurements taken over time compared to the Earth's temperature

• As carbon dioxide levels increase, the temperature of the Earth increases.

• Excess greenhouse gases cause climate change

• Increasing Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Increases Global Temperatures

Multiple Choice

Which greenhouse gas is most commonly associated with climate change discussions due to its significant role in trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere?

• Methane (CH₄)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
• Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
• Flourinated gases

Multiple Choice

The graph below shows CO₂ emissions and temperatures from 1909 to 1949.  What conclusion is best supported by the graph?

• There is no relationship between carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures
• As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures increase
• As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures decrease
• As carbon dioxide concentrations decrease, temperatures increase

Increasing the Greenhouse Effect

• Increases Earth's temperature

• Combustion - Burning Fossil Fuels - MAIN CAUSE

• Deforestation - cutting down forests - less photosynthesis

• Wildfires

• Warmer Oceans

• Decomposition

Decreasing the Greenhouse Effect

• Decreases the Earth's temperature

• Burn less fossil fuels

  • Use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric

• Planting Trees - more photosynthesis

• Cooler Oceans

Multiple Choice

The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is...

• using bottled water
• burning fossil fuels
• texting on cellphones
• eating meat

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be made from this graph?

• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been decreasing since 1960
• Hawaii has a lot of carbon dioxide
• humans have been working hard to decrease carbon dioxide levels
• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased steadily since 1960

Multiple Choice

Certain gases in the atmosphere – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – help maintain the Earth’s temperatures and climate.

What are these gases called?

• ozone gases

• solar gases

• greenhouse gases 

• stomach gases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is contributing to an INCREASE in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

• deforestation

• photosynthesis

• oceans

• all of the above

• the loss of animal species

• Pioneer Species first living thing in an ecosystem - small, fast growing, many seeds

  • lichens, mosses, grasses

• Climax Community is the final mature community

  • hardwood forest of oaks, maple...

Ecological Succession is a series of predictable changes in an ecosystem

• How life begins or returns to an area

• Primary Succession

  • Begins after soil has been removed - on bare rock

    • Lava flow, glacier retreating, new land formed

• Secondary Succession

  • Begins after life has been removed - soil is still there

    • Wildfire, flood, abandoned land

Primary Succession begins on bare rock

• After lava flow, glacier retreating, new land formed

• Pioneer species is mosses or lichen that break down rock creating layer of soil

• Next = grasses, shrubs, fast-growing trees

• Climax Community is hardwood trees

Multiple Select

After which events can primary succession occur? (2)

• Volcanic eruption

• Forest fire

• Flood

• A glacier retreating

• A farmer clearing land

Reorder

Place primary succession in order

• Bare rock

• Lichens

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Trees

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Secondary Succession begins after life has been removed but soil is still present

• Wildfire, flood, abandoned land, cleared land

• Pioneer species is grasses or mosses

• Next = shrubs, fast-growing trees

• Climax Community is hardwood forest

Multiple Select

After which events can secondary succession occur? (3)

• Forest fire

• Volcanic eruption

• A glacier retreating

• Flood

• Clearing land to plant

Multiple Choice

What is the pioneer species of secondary succession?

• Grasses and wildflowers
• Mosses and lichens
• Shrubs

Multiple Choice

Why do grasses appear before shrubs in ecological succession?

• loosen the dirt for new trees to take roots?

• provide food for animals returning to the area

• require plenty of sunlight to make their own food

• can grow even in areas with shallow soil

Explanation Slide...

Grasses appear before shrubs in ecological succession because they can grow even in areas with shallow soil. This allows them to establish themselves and create a suitable environment for other plants to grow. They do not require plenty of sunlight to make their own food, unlike other options. Additionally, they do not loosen the dirt for new trees to take roots or provide food for animals returning to the area. The ability of grasses to thrive in challenging soil conditions makes them the initial pioneers in ecological succession.

Reorder

Place Secondary Succession in Order

• Soil

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Fast-growing Trees

• Hardwood Forest

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2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Categorize

Options (6)

Barrier island formation in New Jersey

Landslide along a coast in California

Advancing of glaciers across Minnesota

Fire that released lodgepole pine seed in Colorado

Straight-line wind damage uprooting hardwood trees in Mississippi

Volcanic eruption and extensive lava flow in Hawaii

Match the events to the kind of succession that each could lead to.

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Pond Succession

• Begins with a depression in the earth

• Pioneer species - Phytoplankton, blue-green algae bacteria are producers

• Zooplankton feed on producers

• Sediment gradually fills in the pond

• Ponds are never climax communities

ORDER: Lake→Marsh→Grassland→Shrubs→Forest
Pond→Meadow→Shrubs→Forest

Multiple Choice

What is the climax community of a pond ecosystem?

• the pond is the climax community

• a meadow

• a hardwood forest

Reorder

Pland pond succession in order - start with POND

• Pond

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Small Trees

• Forest

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?

• Regrowth of vegetation after a forest fire

• Recovery of a coral reef after a bleaching event

• Formation of a new island after a volcanic eruption

• Replanting of crops after a harvest

Explanation Slide...

Secondary succession refers to the process of regrowth of vegetation after a forest fire. It is a natural phenomenon where the ecosystem gradually recovers and new plant life emerges. This type of succession occurs when the soil is still intact and seeds or roots of plants are present. Secondary succession is different from primary succession, which occurs in areas where there is no existing soil. In secondary succession, the vegetation gradually reestablishes itself, leading to the restoration of the ecosystem.

PRACTICE
Questions

Multiple Choice

An example of typical pioneer species, that is one that appears in the earliest stages of ecological succession is:

• Oak Trees

• Spiders

• Weeds

• Small Conifer Trees

Explanation Slide...

In the earliest stages of ecological succession, pioneer species like weeds appear. These plants are the first to colonize disturbed or barren areas. Weeds are known for their ability to quickly establish and reproduce, making them well-suited for these early stages. They outcompete other species due to their rapid growth and adaptability. Weeds play a crucial role in preparing the environment for the growth of other plant species. Therefore, weeds are considered typical pioneer species in ecological succession.

Multiple Choice

Breaking News! A new island has formed off of Hawaii! What must occur for it to become an ecosystem?

• Secondary Succession

• Aquatic succession

• Primary Succession

• Ferns must grow

Explanation Slide...

To form an ecosystem, the new island off of Hawaii must undergo primary succession. This process involves the colonization of barren land by pioneer species, such as lichens and mosses, which gradually break down rocks and create soil. Over time, more complex plants like ferns and trees can establish themselves, attracting animals and forming a diverse ecosystem. Primary succession is different from secondary succession, which occurs on previously inhabited land. Aquatic succession and the growth of ferns are not the primary factors for the formation of an ecosystem on the new island.

Multiple Choice

Which would result in primary succession?

• volcano destroying habitat leaving only soil and ash

• Tornado destroying a crop leaving very little soil

• Glacier retreating exposing bare rock

• limiting factors

Explanation Slide...

Primary succession occurs when a glacier retreats, exposing bare rock. This process allows pioneer species to colonize the area and gradually form soil. Unlike other options, such as a volcano destroying habitat or a tornado destroying a crop, the glacier retreating provides a starting point for new ecological communities. The answer to the question 'Which would result in primary succession?' is the option 'Glacier retreating exposing bare rock'.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the role of lichens in primary succession?

• They provide food for herbivores

• They break down rock to form soil

• They are the final species to establish in a climax community

• They compete with grasses for sunlight

Multiple Choice

In ecological succession, what role do decomposers play?

• They are the first organisms to colonize a barren environment.

• They break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

• They compete with pioneer species for resources.

• They prevent the establishment of new species.

Multiple Choice

6. Which sequence best represents the stages of succession that would most likely occur?

• bare rock → forest → moss → lichens

• grassland → forest → marsh → lake

• lake → marsh → grassland → shrubs → forest

• pine forest → grassland → shrubs → lichens

Multiple Choice

In a Mississippi ecosystem, which of the following best describes the climax community that will eventually form after a long period of stability?

• A grassland filled with wildflowers and weeds

• A dense forest dominated by hardwood trees like oak and maple

• A fast-growing pine forest with a thick underbrush of shrubs

• A wetland area populated by cattails and sedges

Multiple Choice

What is the correct order of primary succession in a forest ecosystem?

• Bare rock -> lichens -> grasses-> shrubs -> small trees -> mature forest
• Mature forest -> shrubs -> grasses -> lichens -> bare rock
• Grasses -> lichens -> bare rock -> shrubs -> small trees -> mature forest

Multiple Choice

A severe wildfire burns a large section of Mississippi's De Soto National Forest. The fire burns the trees and plants, but the soil remains intact. Which statement best describes the ecological succession that will follow?

• Primary succession will occur, starting with lichens colonizing the bare ground.

• Secondary succession will occur, starting with grasses and weeds that can grow in the existing soil.

• Primary succession will occur, as all the original organisms were removed by the fire.

• Secondary succession will occur, starting with the immediate regrowth of the climax community of oak trees.

Multiple Choice

In the early 1900s, hunters in a specific region heavily targeted the passenger pigeon population. As the pigeons migrated in massive, dense flocks, they were easy targets for hunters, leading to a rapid decline in their numbers.

How is this limiting factor classified?

• Density-independent, because humans are an abiotic factor.

• Density-independent, because the hunting occurred regardless of the bird population size.

• Density-dependent, because the high density of the bird flocks made it easier for hunters to find and kill them.

• Density-dependent, because the birds were competing with the hunters for food.

Drag and Drop

A biologist is studying a population of rabbits in a meadow. She notes that as the number of rabbits increases, the spread of a parasitic mite also increases, causing more rabbits to die. The parasitic mite is a ​

Placeholder

limiting factor. If a sudden wildfire were to burn through the meadow, reducing the population regardless of its size, the fire would be considered a ​

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limiting factor.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

density-dependent

density-independent

Multiple Choice

The graph above shows the growth of a population of bacteria over time. Which statement best explains why the population growth levels off after day 25?

• The rate of immigration began to exceed the rate of emigration.

• The population reached the carrying capacity of its environment due to limited resources.

• The population shifted from logistic growth to exponential growth.

• A density-independent factor, such as a temperature drop, destroyed the population.

Multiple Choice

Which situation describes a density-dependent limiting factor for a deer population?

• A major hurricane destroys the trees and shrubs in the forest.

• A long drought lowers water levels in ponds across the region.

• A contagious disease spreads quickly in a crowded deer herd.

• A volcanic eruption covers the area with ash.

Multiple Choice

A lake has experienced repeated fish kills during the summer. Tests show high levels of nitrates and phosphates, warm water temperatures, and very low dissolved oxygen near the bottom. Which combination of processes best explains these conditions?

• Weathering and rock formation

• Nitrogen fixation and nitrification

• Algal blooms followed by decomposition and oxygen use by bacteria

• Denitrification and nitrogen gas release into the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

The bar graph below shows the average phosphate concentration in a river before and after a city bans phosphate-containing detergents.

Which conclusion is best supported by these data?

• The ban had no effect on phosphorus levels in the river.

• The ban reduced phosphorus entering the river over time.

• The ban increased fertilizer use in nearby farms.

• The ban caused nitrogen levels in the river to increase.

Multiple Choice

A student claims: “Without bacteria, the nitrogen cycle would stop, but the phosphorus cycle could still continue.” Which evaluation of this claim is most accurate?

• The claim is correct because nitrogen processes do not involve decomposers.

• The claim is correct because phosphorus is only stored in the atmosphere.

• The claim is partly correct because bacteria are essential for several nitrogen steps, but decomposers also play an important role in the phosphorus cycle.

• The claim is incorrect because bacteria are not involved in any biogeochemical cycles.

Multiple Choice

As the oceans absorb more and more CO₂ from the atmosphere, they become more acidic. Which of the following is a direct consequence of this on ecosystem health?

• It causes sea levels to drop.

• It damages and bleaches coral reefs, reducing biodiversity.

• It causes an increase in polar ice.

• It makes fish grow larger and stronger.

Multiple Choice

Which pair lists one biotic and one abiotic process that add CO₂ to the atmosphere?

• Cellular respiration (biotic) and combustion (abiotic)

• Photosynthesis (biotic) and volcanic activity (abiotic)

• Decomposition (biotic) and ocean absorption (abiotic)

• Transpiration (biotic) and evaporation (abiotic)

Match

Match the following terms:

• Animals eating plants

• Animals hunting and eating other animals

• Both organisms benefit

• One organism benefits, other is unaffected

• One organism benefits, other is harmed

herbivory

predation

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

• herbivory

• predation

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Dropdown

In a forest ecosystem, producers have the ​

Select answer

biomass

The apex predator has the ​

Select answer

biomass

Multiple Choice

If the producers in an ecosystem have 25,000 kJ of energy, approximately how much energy is available to the secondary consumers?

• 25,000 kJ

• 2,500 kJ

• 250 kJ

• 25 kJ

Match

Match the organism to their trophic level:

• producer

• primary consumer

• secondary consumer

• tertiary consumer

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2

3

4

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Creosote bushes release toxins into the soil that prevent other plants, including their own seedlings, from growing nearby. Which statement best explains the evolutionary advantage of this behavior?

• It increases the number of pollinators attracted to the area.

• It reduces competition for water and nutrients in a dry environment.

• It provides nutrients to the soil for future generations.

• It creates a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria.

Multiple Choice

Global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels have increased significantly over the last 100 years. Which statement best explains this trend based on the carbon cycle?

• CO₂ is being removed from the atmosphere faster than it is being released.

• CO₂ is being released into the atmosphere faster than it is being removed.

• Photosynthesis rates have increased, causing an excess of CO₂

• Cellular respiration rates in animals have decreased, trapping CO₂.

Drag and Drop

A deer population in a forest grows rapidly and exceeds the ecosystem's carrying capacity. As a result, the food resources will ​decrease and the deer population will likely ​​​

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shortly after.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

increase

stay the same

decrease

Multiple Choice

In a marine ecosystem, an inverted biomass pyramid is observed where the mass of zooplankton (primary consumers) is larger than the mass of phytoplankton (producers) at any single moment. However, the energy pyramid is always upright. Why is the energy pyramid never inverted?

• Energy is recycled, but biomass is not.

• Consumers continually generate new energy.

• Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level and cannot be created.

• Biomass increases as organisms get larger up the food chain.

Multiple Choice

Why is a climax community, such as a hardwood forest, considered more stable than a pioneer community, such as a field of grasses?

• It has fewer biological interactions.

• It has greater biodiversity and complex food webs.

• It requires less energy from the sun.

• It is not affected by abiotic factors like rain.

Drag and Drop

A farmer builds a dam that blocks water from flowing into a local pond. Over time, the pond water evaporates and is not replaced. As the amount of available water ​

Placeholder

, the population of aquatic plants will decrease, and the population of land-dwelling shrubs will ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

decreases

increase

Multiple Choice

In the water cycle, water moves between the atmosphere and the surface of Earth. Which process represents a direct interaction between a biotic factor (living) and an abiotic factor (nonliving)?

• Precipitation falling from clouds to the ground.

• Water evaporating from the surface of a lake.

• Transpiration releasing water vapor from plant leaves.

• Water infiltrating the soil to form groundwater.

Multiple Choice

Kudzu is a fast-growing vine introduced to Mississippi that climbs over trees and shrubs, blocking them from sunlight. Why is kudzu considered a significant threat to local biodiversity?

• It increases the food supply for native herbivores.

• It forms a mutualistic relationship with native trees.

• It outcompetes native plants for light, leading to the death of native species.

• It acts as a pioneer species on bare rock.

Multiple Choice

While nitrogen-fixing bacteria are the primary way atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) is converted into a usable form for plants, which abiotic natural phenomenon also provides enough energy to break N₂ bonds and fix nitrogen?

• Heavy rainfall

• Lightning strikes

• Volcanic eruptions

• Erosion of rocks