Unit 9 Review

Biodiversity and Systems What is biodiversity and why is it important? = The variety of living things in an area; makes an ecosystem more resilient Describe the levels of interaction Individual = Single living thing in a system Population = Group of individuals in a particular area Community = collection of different populations in an area Ecosystem = every living and non-living thing in an area Biome = large ecosystem that also includes climate What are abiotic and biotic factors found in these levels of interaction? Abiotic – not living = sunlight, water availability, minerals, latitude, pressure, weather, pollution Biotic – living = competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

Measuring Populations (births/deaths, immigration/emigration) Direct Observations = count each individual by hand, no tools Indirect Observations = count signs that the organisms is there Quadrant Method = Use a sample of the population to determine size Mark-Recapture Method = count marked/unmarked and calculate average What is logistic growth? Rapid growth that levels off and reaches carrying capacity What is exponential growth? Rapid growth and has not reached carrying capacity

Types of organisms Producers = introduce energy into the ecosystem Consumers = heterotrophs, must eat other living things to survive Primary = eat producers Secondary = eat primary consumers Tertiary = eat secondary consumers Herbivore = eat only plants Carnivore = eat only meat Omnivore = eat both plants and animals Scavenger = eat the remains of dead animals Detritivore = breaks down once living organic matter Generalists/Specialists = General eats many things; specialists eat particular things

Biomes Tundra = low precip, cold, elevations common, not much growth, permafrost Deserts = dry, usually hot, no growth, poor soil, small animals may exist Forests = lots of growth, lots of precip, warmer, sunlight needed, diverse Grasslands = some growth, moderate soil and precip, wet/dry seasons Aquatic Marine = salt water = more than 1% salt Freshwater = less than 1% salt Describe the water cycle = Don’t forget about runoff, plays a role in all systems Describe the carbon cycle = CO2 comes from humans and engines, photosynthesis plays a big role as well What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? Primary = new land, no previous living things, first growth, takes a long time Secondary = old land, previous living things, continuing growth, short period of time

Human Impact Renewable and Nonrenewable resources Renewable = wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass (will replenish) Nonrenewable = fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas, petroleum. Nuclear. (These won’t come back) Deforestation / Slash and burn farming / Clearcutting = when humans forcibly remove forest in order to develop or use for farming. Can lead to desertification Climate Change = humans have added CO2 to atmosphere and we are seeing an increase in global temperatures. Causes instability in weather. Invasive Species = introduced species that do not belong to different ecosystems, caused too much predation or poisoning effects Extinction events = humans have hunted/hurt some species until they no longer exist. Decreases biodiversity.