Study Guide Biology '10

Threats to an ecosystem includ e loggin g

overgrazin g

irrigati on

of

of

in

in the

grasslands

deserts

tundra

rainfores ts

oil extraction

Which can contribut e to erosio n

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Biomes

Explain The Relationship Between the Carrying Capacity of a Population and the Factors That Impact an Ecosystem Carrying Capacity is the number of animals an area (land or water) can support throughout a year without causing damage to the animals or habitat.

Increased population will result in many consequences: • • • • •

depletion of natural resources polluted water and air lack of space increase of disease-causing organisms decrease in the quality of life 4

Carrying Capacity graph

Quality of Air: Explain How a Highly Populated Society Causes Air Pollution   

One result of air pollution is global warming. Humans cause global warming by burning the fossil fuels. Levels of carbon dioxide are also increased by deforestation and cement production.

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Air Pollution and Environmental Degradation  Air pollution affects the following:  Global Warming is the increase in Earth’s average

surface temperature.  Ozone Depletion is the depletion of the layer that exists in the atmosphere and absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.  Acid Precipitation is precipitation with a pH of less than 5.0. Gizmos Lab: Greenhouse Effect

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Acid Rain

Air Pollution

includes primary pollutant s

secondary pollutants

volatile organic compounds

smog

such as

such as

which can be removed from the air by a

which can be trapped near Earth’s surface by a

scrubber

temperature inversion 9

How Can Recycling Improve Our Quality of Life? Example:  Recycling paper = more trees = more CO2

absorbed = reduced green house gasses = reduced global warming = less polar ice caps melting = saving coastal land masses = more habitats = more biodiversity = healthier ecosystem = a healthier planet = improved quality of life for all living things.

The above example demonstrates how everything on Earth is interconnected!!! 10

Changes to an Ecosystem Primary succession is a type of succession that occurs on a surface where no ecosystem existed before. It begins in an area that previously did

 not support life. 

can occur on rocks, cliffs, or sand dunes

Secondary succession occurs on a surface where an ecosystem has previously existed. It is the process by which one community replaces another community that has been partially or totally destroyed by humans, animals, or by natural processes such as storms, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. Primary and Secondary Succession

FCAT Multiple Choice Sample Questions Scientists are studying the relationship between the amount of rainfall and reported cases of malaria, a disease, that is spread by mosquitoes. The scientists' data are shown in the table below. Based on the data, what conclusion can be made?

A. Malaria cases increase as rainfall amounts decrease. B. Mosquito breeding increases with the amount of rainfall. C. Greater amounts of rainfall cause mosquito breeding to decrease. D. Malaria cases decrease as the population of mosquitoes increases. 12

FCAT Multiple Choice Sample Questions Plants use carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to aid in the production of food. Plants then release oxygen into the atmosphere. What might be a long-term result of clearing large areas of forestland? A. B. C. D.

an increase in global levels of oxygen a decrease in global levels of carbon dioxide an increase in global levels of carbon dioxide an increase in the number of trees in another forest

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FCAT Multiple Choice Sample Questions Great horned owls feed on snakes and mice among other mammals. A great horned owl population is threatened when a logging company decides to harvest its forest habitat. After many years of continuous deforestation, much of the owl population has fled in search of a new forest for nesting. Which of the following scenarios in the owl's previous habitat is most likely? A. Both the snake and mouse populations will increase B. Both the snake and mouse populations will decrease C. The mouse population will increase but the snake population will decrease D. The snake population will increase but the mouse population will decrease

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Multiple Choice Sample Questions

The eruption of the volcano, Mount St. Helens was followed by A. primary succession. B. secondary succession. C. old–field succession. D. forest succession.

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FCAT Short-Response Sample Questions  The diagram below shows the relationship

between three types of animals in a food chain: Worms are eaten by birds, which in turn are eaten by snakes.  If all the birds in an area died due to a new

disease, what would the impact be to the local populations of worms and snakes after one month? After one year? Explain your answer.

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Multiple Choice Sample Questions What type of vegetation would you expect to find on newly formed volcanic islands? A. lichens B. short grasses C. shrubs D. young trees

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