Understanding Carbon in Ecosystems

Miss Katherine guides students through lesson 3.3 on matter and energy in ecosystems. The lesson reviews Chapter 2's findings on decomposer populations and carbon dioxide levels, then explores claims about carbon's location in a closed ecosystem. Key concepts include the constancy of carbon in closed systems and the balance between abiotic and biotic matter. The lesson concludes with a discussion on carbon movement through natural processes and human activities like burning fossil fuels.

What should students do at the beginning of the lesson?

• Begin with the quiz.

• Start writing notes immediately.

• Pause the video and gather materials.

• Skip to the end of the video.

What was the effect of the decreased decomposer population in Chapter 2?

• Increased carbon dioxide levels.

• No change in carbon dioxide levels.

• Increased oxygen levels.

• Decreased carbon dioxide levels.

What question are students asked to consider about carbon in Chapter 3?

• Where did the carbon go if it's not in the air?

• What is the role of carbon in photosynthesis?

• How is carbon created in the ecosystem?

• Why is carbon important for plants?

Which claim is correct regarding carbon in a closed ecosystem?

• The carbon is lost to space.

• The total carbon increases.

• The total carbon remains the same.

• The total carbon decreases.

What is a key concept about carbon in a closed ecosystem?

• Carbon cannot be produced or used up.

• Carbon can be created and destroyed.

• Carbon is only found in abiotic matter.

• The total amount of carbon changes frequently.

What happens if carbon increases in abiotic matter?

• It remains constant in biotic matter.

• It disappears from the ecosystem.

• It also increases in biotic matter.

• It decreases in biotic matter.

What natural processes move carbon in the ecosystem?

• Magnetism and gravity.

• Evaporation and condensation.

• Erosion and sedimentation.

• Photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

What does the red arrow in the image represent?

• Natural carbon cycle.

• Human interaction with the carbon cycle.

• Animal migration patterns.

• Plant growth cycles.

How does burning fossil fuels affect carbon levels?

• Decreases carbon in abiotic matter.

• Increases carbon in abiotic matter.

• Has no effect on carbon levels.

• Decreases carbon in biotic matter.

What is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned?

• Hydrogen

• Carbon

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen