Here’s a concise overview of the topics you've listed for your Ecosystems quiz. Use this as a study guide to help ensure you cover all aspects.
1. Life on Planet Earth
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Spheres of the Earth:
- Lithosphere: The solid outer part of the Earth, consisting of rock and soil, which supports terrestrial life.
- Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, essential for weather, climate, and the survival of living organisms.
- Hydrosphere: All water bodies on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and water vapor, crucial for all life forms.
- Biosphere: The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships with the environment.
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Interactions:
- Example: Plants (biosphere) absorb carbon dioxide (atmosphere) and water (hydrosphere) and use minerals from the soil (lithosphere) to grow.
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Biotic and Abiotic Factors:
- Biotic Factors: Living components like plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.
- Abiotic Factors: Non-living components like temperature, water, soil, and sunlight.
- Interaction Example: Plants (biotic) rely on sunlight and water (abiotic) for photosynthesis.
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Key Terms: Ecosystems, biotic factors, abiotic factors, populations, communities, etc.
2. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
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Photosynthesis:
- Word Equation: Carbon dioxide + Water + Light energy → Glucose + Oxygen
- Reactants: Carbon dioxide, Water, Light energy
- Products: Glucose, Oxygen
- Requires Light Energy: Yes, occurs in chloroplasts of plant cells.
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Cellular Respiration:
- Word Equation: Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP)
- Reactants: Glucose, Oxygen
- Products: Carbon dioxide, Water, Energy (ATP)
- Creates Energy: Yes, occurs in mitochondria of both plant and animal cells.
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Key Terms: Photosynthesis, cellular respiration, chloroplasts, mitochondria, light/radiant energy, chemical energy, producers, consumers, etc.
3. Food Chains and Food Webs
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Food Chains: Linear representations of how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another (e.g., Grass → Rabbit → Fox).
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Food Webs: More complex networks showing multiple food chains in an ecosystem.
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Trophic Levels:
- Producers (1st trophic level): Organisms that make their own food (e.g., plants).
- Primary Consumers (2nd trophic level): Herbivores that eat producers.
- Secondary Consumers (3rd trophic level): Carnivores that eat primary consumers.
- Tertiary Consumers (4th trophic level): Animals that eat secondary consumers.
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Impact of Changes: Removing or adding an organism can disrupt the balance, affecting all connected species.
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Key Terms: Producer, consumer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, top carnivore, trophic levels, predator, prey, etc.
4. Ecological Pyramids
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Energy Pyramid: Visual representation of energy flow in an ecosystem, showing that energy decreases at each trophic level (10% rule).
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10% Rule: Only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next.
- Example: If producers have 1000 kcal, primary consumers would have about 100 kcal, and secondary consumers would have about 10 kcal.
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Biomass Pyramids: Show the total mass of living matter at each trophic level.
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Number Pyramids: Show the number of individual organisms at each trophic level.
5. Cycling of Matter
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Carbon Cycle: The process through which carbon is exchanged between living organisms, the atmosphere, and the Earth. Key processes include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.
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Nitrogen Cycle: The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms. Key processes include:
- Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by bacteria.
- Nitrification: Conversion of ammonia to nitrates.
- Denitrification: Conversion of nitrates back to nitrogen gas by bacteria, releasing it into the atmosphere.
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Key Terms: Nitrogen fixation, nitrates, decomposers, denitrification.
Study Suggestions
- Make flashcards for key terms.
- Draw diagrams for processes (like the carbon and nitrogen cycles).
- Practice writing out food chains and webs given certain organisms.
- Work on understanding the implications of changes in food webs or ecosystems.
Good luck with your quiz!