Final Exam Review

Earth Science

AstronomyEen.1.1 Explain Earth’s role as a body in space.

Earths’ motion through space

How did the Universe Begin?

• The Big Bang Theory!

– The Big Bang Theory states that all matter and energy was once compressed into extremely small volume

– 14 billion years ago a sudden event (the big bang) sent all matter and energy hurling outward, forming our universe today

Earth’s motion through space

Okay, so how did the solar system form?

• The Nebular Hypothesis

– Nebulae (cloud of gas and dust) forms through gravitational force

– Increases speed of spin and collapses; sun forms in center

– Disk clears; sun fully forms; dust forms planets

Earth’s motion through space

• Hierarchy in Universe

– Earth

– Solar System

– Galaxy

– Local Group

– Universe

• The universe is constantly expanding!

Earth’s motion through space

Kepler’s Laws

1. The path of each planet around the sun is an ellipse with the sun at one focus

2. Each planet revolves so that the “imaginary line” that connects it to the sun sweeps equal amount of area in equal time intervals (closer sun=faster)

3. The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of its distance from the sun (T2 = d3)

Earth’s motion through space

Rotation and Revolution

• Rotation is the spinning of Earth on it’s axis– Results in day/night (one spin every 24 hours)

– Earth’s circumference is larger around center than at poles due to this spinning motion

• Revolution is the circling of a body around a fixed point (the earth revolves around the sun)– Results in year (Earth circles sun once every 365

days)

Earth’s motion through space

Seasons and tides

• Season are caused by Earth’s 23.5 degree tilt

• Tides are a result of the gravitational pull between the moon, Earth, and sun

– Without the moon, we would not have tides

Earth’s motion through space

Precession, nutation, and barycenter

• Precession- change in direction of the axis, but without any change in tilt (Vega and Polaris)– Does not affect seasons

• Nutation- wobbling around the precessional axis (1/2 degree one way or other; think spinning top)– 18 year period; slight effect on

seasons

Earth’s motion through space

Precession, nutation, and barycenter

• Barycenter- the point between two objects where they balance each other– Sun and planets are not stationary; they tug on each

other slightly (rotate around the barycenter)

• Perihelion is the point at which Earth is closest to the sun in it’s revolution; aphelion is the point at which it is furthest away

http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/health_and_science/mysteries_of_the_universe/2014/01/barycenter_animation_spaceplace.gif.CROP.original-original.gif

The sun’s energy

• Fission vs. Fusion– Fission=Splitting of atoms

– Fusion=Fusing of nuclei (hydrogen to helium)• Stars (the sun) make energy through fusion!

• Sun’s energy comes in Electromagnetic Energy Waves– Energy absorbed or radiated by particles

– Include x-rays, gamma rays, visible light, etc

– Lots of it may be harmful to life

• Energy reaches earth through radiation

The sun’s energy

• Unequal heating-water heats slower than land, but holds heat longer

• Solar energy is turned into chemical energy through photosynthesis– Plants produce sugar (glucose)

– 6H2O + 6CO2 ----> C6H12O6+ 6O2

• Lots of harmful radiation absorbed or reflected by atmosphere; Earth’s magnetic field also reflects radiation

Astronomy Practice Problems

Multiple Choice

How does a straight alignment between Earth, the sun, and the moon impact

the tides on Earth?a) It produces the greatest change in high and

low tides.

b) It produces the least change in high and low tides.

c) It produces semidiurnal tides.

d) It produces diurnal tides.

Which statement describes the motion of Earth around the sun?

a) The speed of Earth is constant regardless of its distance from the sun.

b) The speed of Earth is constant because the distance remains the same between Earth and the sun.

c) Speed increases the farther Earth is from the sun and decreases the closer it is to the sun.

d) Speed increases the closer Earth is to the sun and decreases the farther it is from the sun.

Which of the following is NOT addressed by one of Kepler’s Laws?

a) The time it takes to revolve around the sun in relation to its distance from the Sun

b) The fact that when planets are closer to the sun they move faster, and when they are farther away they move slower

c) The fact that the orbit of planets which revolve around the sun is elliptical rather than circular

d) Not only are planets pulled by the sun, the sun is pulled by the planets

Part of the radiation that leaves the sun is prevented from reaching Earth’s surface. If this did not happen, life would not

have been able to thrive on our planet. Which of the following helps protect Earth’s surface from harmful rays of

the sun?

a) Earth’s atmosphere absorbs some of the radiation

b) Earth’s magnetism helps repel some of the rays

c) Earth’s atmosphere reflects some of the radiation

d) All of the above

The shape of the planet’s orbit in our solar system is described as:

a) Circular with the sun in its center

b) Elliptical with the sun in its center

c) Elliptical with the sun at a focus of the ellipse

d) The orbit fluctuates between circular and elliptical depending on the year

Which of the is NOT true concerning Kepler’s second law

a) The “line” that connects a planet to a sun sweeps over equal areas in equal time intervals

b) The closer a planet is to the sun the faster the planet travels

c) The closer a planet is to the sun the slower the planet travels

d) None of these are true

If it is summer in the northern hemisphere, which statement is true?

a) Earth has changed the tilt of its axis by 20 degrees due to its revolution.

b) It is winter in the southern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth’s axis.

c) It is summer in the southern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth’s axis.

d) Earth has reached its closest point to the sun due to its revolution.

Why do green plants require solar energy?

a) to produce their own food

b) to absorb nitrogen into their roots

c) to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

d) to decompose the dead or decaying remains of animals

Which natural phenomenon occurs as a result of Earth rotating on its axis?

a) movement of tectonic plates

b) deep ocean currents

c) seasonal changes

d) day and night

The LithosphereEen.2.1 Explain how processes and forces affect the Lithosphere

The rock cycle and plate tectonics• Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary rock

• Heat energy from earth’s core drives the rock cycle

The rock cycle and plate tectonics

• The mantle and upper crust make up the lithosphere– Broken into plates that move because of the

convection of mantle, gravitational push and pull of ridges

• Divergent-plates spread apart (mid ocean ridge)

• Convergent-plates push together (mountains)

• Transform-plates scrape past each other (San-Andreas fault)

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

• Volcanoes tend to form along plate boundaries (subduction, rifting, hotspots)

• Volcano terms:– Magma-molten rock underground

– Lava-molten rock above ground

– Lahar-mud flow in volcano

– Pyroclastic cloud-fast moving hot cloud of dust

– Ash-can blot out sun and cause destruction after eruption

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

• Earthquakes form on plate boundaries– Fault lines-slipping and breaking of boundaries

• Earthquake terms:– Epicenter-location of earthquake on surface

– Focal Point-where earthquake originated underground

– P wave- waves which travel fastest, first, and moves through any material

– S wave- actual surface waves which travel slower and only moves through solids

Weathering and soil formation

• Weathering is breaking down of something (ex. rock)

– Physical only changes appearance

– Chemical changes it’s makeup

– Weathering can speed up with higher moisture/heat

– Soil is the result of weathered rock (sand, silt, clay)

Erosion

• Erosion is the movement of weathered particles from one location to another

– Water and wind can carry particles

– Gravity can affect particles (mountaintops, ice)

• Erosion can be increased by human factors-ex. Tree roots keep soil in place; removal of trees can increase erosion

Geohazards

• Geohazards are result of lithospheric events, erosion, and human influences

– Landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, sinkholes, groundwater pollution, flooding

• Protections in place to reduce geohazards-sand dune protections; building in better places; building and evacuation plans

Lithosphere Practice Problems

Multiple Choice

Which will most likely form when movement along a plate boundary

forces a landmass to be pulled apart?

a) volcanic island arc

b) continental mountains

c) continental rift

d) oceanic trench

Which would produce the most severe earthquake damage along the surface

of Earth?a) an earthquake with a deep focus and a

magnitude of 2.5

b) an earthquake with a shallow focus and a magnitude of 2.5

c) an earthquake with a deep focus and a magnitude of 4.5

d) an earthquake with a shallow focus and a magnitude of 4.5

Scientists are studying a graph showing the time differences between the seismic P-waves and the

seismic S-waves as they travel through Earth. Which information can they learn from the graph?

a) the magnitude of an earthquake

b) the duration of an earthquake

c) the epicenter of an earthquake

d) the intensity of an earthquake

Cracks in rocks widen as water in them freezes and thaws. How does this

affect the surface of the Earth?a) It reduces the rates of soil formation.

b) It changes the chemical composition of the rocks.

c) It exposes rocks to increased rates of erosion and weathering.

d) It limits the exposure of rocks to acid precipitation.

There are several different types of rock. Each rock type is formed under different conditions. How are

sedimentary rock, such as shale and sandstone, formed?

a) Particles are heated by the sun.

b) Particles are melted together by magma.

c) Particles are compressed and cemented into layers.

d) Particles are changed into liquids.

A group of citizens want to have a statue built out of marble. They want to place it in a climate that has a slow rate of

mechanical weathering. In which type of climate would it be best to place their statue for the slowest rate of mechanical

weathering?

a) Hot and dry

b) Cold and dry

c) Hot and humid

d) Cold and humid

Human Impacts on the LithosphereEEn.2.2 Understand how human influences impact the lithosphere.

EEn.2.8 Evaluate human behaviors in terms of how likely they are to ensure the ability to live sustainably on Earth.

Land Use

Urbanization-growth of urban (city) areas as a result of rural (country) migration

• People move for jobs, medicine, etc.

• Consequences include:

– Acid Rain: increase of pH of rain due to pollution

– Heat Islands: Solar radiation is reflected off buildings and asphalt, making the area hotter

Land Use

Deforestation-the large scale removal of trees

• Used for lumber, building, etc.

• Consequences include:

– Less oxygen

– More carbon dioxide

– Increased runoff

– Decreased biodiversity

Land Use

Agriculture

• Growing resources on the land; used for food, etc. (more people=more agriculture)

• Consequences include:

– Salinization-buildup of salts in the soil; becomes useless to plants

– Overgrazing-animals grazing and plants not being given time to grow back

Effects

Shorelines

• Increase in population=decrease in vegetation

• Decrease in vegetation=increase in erosion

• Dunes and barriers can help

Mountainsides

• Increase in population=decrease in vegetation

• Decrease in vegetation=increase in erosion

• Decrease in stability! (rockfalls, etc.)

• Retaining walls, barriers, vegetation, and rocks can help

Resources

• Natural resource-natural material used by humans (ex. Wood, water, oil)

• Renewable-can be replaced quickly by natural processes (ex. Wind, water, trees)

• Nonrenewable-form at too slow a rate to renew-once they’re gone, they’re gone!– Fossil fuel-past living material used as energy

source

How to humans obtain energy?

• Harvesting-plants and other resources

• Mining (coal and uranium)-digging into the Earth for coal and other resources– Coal is a cheap, high energy nonrenewable resource,

but it is dirty, releases pollutants, and destroys the land

– Reclamation: returning the land to original state

• Drilling (oil and natural gas)-Oil is pumped from the ground using drill– Oil is high in energy, but is nonrenewable, releases

pollutants, and can be a harmful factor in environment

What are alternative energy sources?

We need to find new sources of renewable energy. The options include…

• Solar-energy from sun – Pro: Free, no pollution

– Con: Expensive; Needs constant sunlight!

• Wind-energy gained from wind– Pro: Efficient, environmentally friendly, quick construction

– Con: Noisy; Need steady wind

• Biofuel-fuel from biological sources (dung, trees…)– Pro: Large supply

– Con: Trees must be replanted; no roots=erosion

More alternative energy• Fuel cell-converts chemical to electrical energy

– Pro: safe; low environmental impact– Con: High cost; doesn’t last; not readily available

• Wave power-wave motion converted to electricity– Pro: No pollutants, works 24/7– Con: Expensive; issues with machinery

• Geothermal-underground steam used for heat/power– Pro: readily available, little pollution– Con: only available near geological activity

Which would most benefit the areas of NC?

Sustainability

• Sustainability-using resources wisely to ensure harmonious future

• Carrying capacity: the number of people Earth can physically support—the population is increasing and expected to cap at about 9 billion

– Limiting factors: food, water, space…

– What can humans do to ensure sustainability?

Sustainability

• Ecological footprint-your personal impact on the world (how many acres does it take to sustain you?)

– We can reduce our individual footprint in small steps

• Reduce, reuse, recycle!!

HUMAN IMPACTS PRACTICEMultiple Choice

How can urbanization affect a local area?

a) It can increase the number of invasive species in an area.

b) It can decrease the risk of water pollution in an area.

c) It can increase the risk of flooding in an area.

d) It can decrease the need for natural resources in an area

Which is a farming technique that could improve the soil and the environment?

a) using fueled machines that will turn the soil continuously

b) creating undisturbed layers of mulch in the soil

c) placing inorganic chemical fertilizers in the soil

d) irrigating the soil with salty water

Which would most likely cause a reduction in the amount of coal and

natural gas on Earth?

a) a continual increase in the amount of pollution in Earth’s atmosphere

b) a continual increase in the number of people on Earth

c) a continual decrease in the amount of water in Earth’s aquifers

d) a continual decrease in the amount of rain forests on Earth

A local government voted against the large-scale development of buildings and roads in the area. What

could have been the motive behind their decision?

a) It could lead to a decrease in the average annual temperature in the area.

b) It could lead to the formation of heat islands, which may impact the microclimate in the area.

c) It could lead to the introduction of invasive species, which may impact the area.

d) It could lead to a decrease in acid rain production in the area.

How could the removal of trees and other vegetation impact an environment?

a) By increasing oxygen production

b) by increasing soil formation

c) by increasing transpiration

d) by increasing erosion

Which is an advantage of safely using uranium as an energy source rather than using coal?

a) Uranium produces energy without polluting the atmosphere, while burning coal can increase the CO2 in the atmosphere.

b) Uranium reduces the amount of thermal pollution, while burning coal can increase the amount of thermal pollution.

c) Uranium is the most cost-efficient energy resource, while coal is the most expensive energy resource.

d) Uranium can be easily mined from deep within Earth, while coal is a hard resource to mine from deep within Earth.

HydrosphereEEn.2.3 Explain the structure and processes within the hydrosphere.EEn.2.4 Evaluate how humans use water.

Water Properties

• Water makes up 71% of Earth-most in the oceans!

• Water has a high specific heat-takes a lot of energy to heat up water

• Density=how “compact” something is

– Water density is 1g/mL

– Density is affected by salinity and temperature!

Water Density

• Cold water is more dense that warm water

– Cold water will sink below warm water; salt water will sink below freshwater

• Density influences the ocean currents through this movement

– Warm water moves toward the poles; cold water moves toward the equator

• Because of waters high specific heat, coastal climates are especially affected by water

The Water Cycle

River Systems

• River Basins-An entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries

• Watershed-Smaller area of land that drains to a smaller stream, lake or wetland

• Main difference=size

Groundwater

• Aquifer-an underground freshwater source

• Permeability-the ability for water to pass through soil/rock

• Porosity-the ability for rocks to hold water

• The best aquifers are porous and permeable!

Groundwater

• Excess rain can raise the water table, and even cause flooding

• Too much pumping or drought can lower the water table

Aquifers

• Aquifers are a main source of our freshwater, but aquifer depletion can cause problems

– Subsidence-sinking of land over time due to water being removed

– Saltwater intrusion-aquifers too close to oceans can have saltwater pollution if they are depleted; makes the water unusable for drinking

Human Use of Water

• Wells-Cylindrical hole dug to penetrate aquifer– Recharge: adding water to aquifer

• Dams-built to retain freshwater– Can cause environmental consequences upstream and

down (migration, water flow, etc.)

• Agriculture-Chemicals from agriculture can pollute water

• Recreation-Humans use water too; our population is growing and clean water is being used up-we need to keep it clean!

Water Pollution

• Both groundwater and surface water can be polluted

– Chemicals from agriculture, pollutants, saltwater intrusion, runoff, sedimentation

• Nonpoint=many sources; point=one source

• Water treatment can increase drinking water, reduce pollution, and improve water quality (chemical, physical, biotic)

– Desalinization-removal of salt from water

Conservation

• “Clean Water Act”

• Keeping water sources clean by reducing pollution

• Reducing ecological footprint-shorter shower, turning off drain when brushing teeth, etc.

HYDROSPHERE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice

Subsurface ocean currents continually circulate from the warm waters near the equator to the colder waters in other

parts of the world. What is the main cause ofthese currents?

a) differences in the topography along the ocean floor

b) differences in density of ocean water

c) the rotation of Earth on its axis

d) movement of the jet stream

What is most responsible for the presence of groundwater in an area?

a) the movement of water from a confined aquifer into surface water

b) the movement of surface water and precipitation through soil and rock

c) the movement of water from streams and rivers to watersheds

d) the movement of surface water through impermeable rock

Which is the most common contamination source for freshwater resources?

a) runoff

b) digging wells

c) melting of glaciers

d) lightning

A community decides to upgrade its water purification and management systems. What lasting impact could

this have on available freshwater?

a) It could cause a decrease in water demand.

b) It could cause a decrease in the water levels.

c) It could cause an increase in waterborne diseases.

d) It could cause an increase in the freshwater supply.

Which is most likely a prevention strategy for flooding?

a) building artificial levees

b) reducing water consumption

c) recycling bottled-water containers

d) building waste landfills for metals and other contaminants

Why are ocean currents important to coastal regions?

a) They produce high and low tides along coastal regions.

b) They can warm or cool the air temperatures along coastal regions.

c) They move vertically pushing warm water and nutrients to the surface along coastal regions.

d) They increase the rate of precipitation as cold water moves along coastalregions.

Which consequence could an exponentially growing human population

have on drinkable water?a) It could cause a decrease in the amount of

waste and pollutants in the water supply.

b) It could cause an increase in the amount of water available for the population.

c) It could cause an increase in cases of waterborne diseases.

d) It could cause a decrease in needing water for survival.

AtmosphereEEn.2.5 Understand the structure of and processes within our atmosphere.

EEn.2.6 Analyze patterns of global climate change over time.

Layers of the Atmosphere

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere

• Main gases-nitrogen, oxygen, argon

Air Density

• Warm air is less dense than cool air

• Cool air will sink!

• This creates movement in the air-leads to masses, fronts, storms, and other weather events!

Air Masses

• Air masses move according to pressure

• Pick up the temperature and moisture of the land below

• Air pressure-the pressure of the air in the atmosphere

– Lower pressure-the atmosphere is pushing down on earth (bad weather!)

– High pressure means fair weather

• The boundaries between air masses are fronts!

Fronts

• Warm-warm air overtakes cool

• Cold-cold air overtakes warm

• Occluded-Cold air squeezed between two warm fronts

• Stationary-two fronts meet and stay still

Reading Weather Maps

• How would you draw a station model for a partly cloudy day; temperature of 80, dew point of 65; wind from the SE direction at 15 knots?

Storm Systems

• Thunderstorms-cumulonimbus clouds in unstable environments; thunder and lightening

• Tornados-horizontal air mass turns vertical in an unstable environment; very destructive; Fujita scale

• Hurricane-spiral of warm, humid air forming over ocean; Saffir-Simpson scale; eye of hurricane has no wind; eye wall strongest

Water Vapor in Atmosphere

• Water vapor most important for atmospheric processes (clouds!)

• Dew point-the temperature air must reach to condense (think dew drops on grass)

Humidity vs. Relative Humidity

• Humidity-measure of water vapor in atmosphere

• Relative humidity-the amount of water relative to how much it can hold

– Warm air holds more than cold (that’s why it tends to be more humid in the summer)

Human Activities

• Acid Rain-caused by pollutants; very harmful because it can carry to locations outside of the pollution source

• aerosols, chlorofluorocarbons, burning, industrial pollution

Weather Vs. Climate

• Weather-current atmospheric conditions

• Climate-conditions recorded over a long period of time

Koppen Classification

• Climate types

– Dry, Temperate, Tropical, polar, highland

– What do you think the climate is like in each?

Natural Processes Affecting Climate

• El Nino/La Nina-5-7 years causes fluctuation in climate

• Eruptions, sunspots, shifts orbit, co2 fluctuations

Greenhouse Effect

• Greenhouse effect- a natural warming of Earth-we need it to survive!

– Greenhouse gases are methane, Carbon dioxide, water vapor

• Global warming-the increased warming of Earth due to increased greenhouse gas

– Why co2?-because it stays in atmosphere the longest and is polluted by humans

Human Impact

• Deforestation, heat islands from building, burning fossil fuels

• Rising sea level-sea level rise from melting glaciers and thermal expansion; causing increased erosion on shorelines

• Ocean acidification-carbon emissions making oceans more acidic-killing coral reefs and harming marine wildlife!

ATMOSPHERE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice

1. Which statement best describes the ozone layer of Earth?

a) It helps reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of Earth

b) It prevents the formation of severe storms in the stratosphere

c) It increases the amount of nitrogen in the troposphere of the Earth

d) It forms a magnetic field in the mesosphere of Earth

2. Which contributes to the formation of hurricanes during the late summer?

a) The interaction between ocean water salinity and warm air masses

b) The interaction between ocean water currents and polar air masses

c) The interaction between ocean water temperatures and warm air masses

d) The interaction between ocean water salinity and ocean water density

3.How does an increase in carbon dioxide affect coral reefs?

a.The oceans will absorb more carbon, generating

carbonic acid, increasing the acidity of the oceans

b.An increase in carbon dioxide will increase the amount

of algae produced in the ocean

c. An increase of carbon dioxide will cause the oceans to

also release more carbon dioxide, decreasing the

acidity of the oceans

d.An increase of carbon dioxide has no effects on our

oceans

4. In which atmospheric layer of Earth do thunderstorms occur?

a) Thermosphere

b) Mesosphere

c) Stratosphere

d) Troposphere

5. A company has several factories around the world and has decided to transition from

burning fossil fuels to using alternative energy resources. How could a decrease in burning

fossil fuels impact the atmosphere?

a. It could decrease the oxygen levels of the atmosphere.

b. It could increase the nitrogen levels of the atmosphere.

c. It could decrease the carbon dioxide levels of the

atmosphere.

d. It could increase the sulfur dioxide levels of the

atmosphere.

6. Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of climate change?

a) a. El Nino/La Nina

b) b. Earth’s rotation gradually slowing down

c) c. Changes in Earth’s orbit

d) d. Solar activity

7. You walk outside and it is a very sunny day with little to no overcast. What can you assume about the state of the atmosphere at this point in time?

A. That the atmosphere is currently in the state of low pressure

B. That the atmosphere is currently in the state of high pressure

C. That we should expect a storm to roll in soon

D. There is no way to tell whether or not we are in a high or low pressure system.

8. What is the driving factor for the creation of storms?

A. Interaction of air masses

B. Movement of moisture

C. Wind generated by density changes

D. The jet stream

9. The earth’s atmosphere is mainly composed of which three gases?

A. Argon, nitrogen and oxygen

B. Carbon dioxide, helium and nitrogen

C. Argon, methane and oxygen

D. Helium, oxygen and radon

10. Which of the following is an example of climate?

A. The current temperature in Pinehurst, NC

B. The relative humidity in Raleigh, NC

C. The average current temperature in a region

D. The average temperature in Raleigh, NC over the past 30 years

11. What is the primary cause for the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere?

A. An increase in vegetation on our planet

B. The burning of fossil fuels by the industrialized world

C. Deforestation

D. Both b and c

12. Which can lead to the depletion of the ozone layer of Earth?

A. Coal-fired power plants

B. Vehicle exhaust

C. Burning compost

D. Aerosols

BiosphereEEn.2.7 Explain how the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere individually and collectively affect the

biosphere.

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems are areas in which living and nonliving factors interact

• Biotic vs. Abiotic factors

– Biotic=any living factor (ex. Tree, fox)

– Abiotic=any nonliving factor (ex. Air, water)

• Biotic and Abiotic factors interact together inan ecosystem

Biosphere

• The Biosphere makes up all life on the planet!

• Food Chain: Shows 1 pathway of energy

• Food Web: Shows multiple pathways of energy

• The #1 source of energy in a food chain comes from the sun!

– It is converted to chemical energy we use by plants via photosynthesis

Organism Relationships

• Predators=organism hunting another for food

• Prey=organism being hunted

– Predator/prey affect one another. If predators go down, prey will go up. If prey goes up, predators will go up due to increase food source

• Competition is when organisms fight over a similar food source

Organism Relationships

• Symbiosis=organisms living together

– Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (ex. Bee andflower)

– Parasitism: One benefited, the other harmed (ex.Tapeworm and dog)

– Commensalism: One benefitted, one unaffected(ex. Whale and barnacles)

Carrying Capacity

• The maximum population size an ecosystem can support

• If a population exceeds carrying capacity, thepopulation will drop due to lack of resources

• If a population is below carrying capacity, it has room to grow

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity: Amount of different species in an ecosystem.

– Biodiversity increases as you move toward the equator

• Biodiversity is important as it providesdifferent resources for organisms, including us (think food, medicine, etc.) It also reduces competition in an ecosystem.

Biomes• Biome: A large area characterized by similar biotic

factors. Often identified by major plant species. Determined by temperature and rainfall.– Tundra: Cold, permafrost

– Taiga: Cold, mountainous, conifers

– Temperate forest: Cold winters, warm summers, deciduous trees

– Desert: Dry, hot days cold nights

– Grassland: Short, grassy vegetation; grazing animals

– Tropical rainforest: Warm, lots of rainfall, most biodiverse

Threats to Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is threatened by human influences, including pollution, deforestation, acid rain, invasive species, poaching, etc.

• Invasive/nonnative species: organism introduced to an ecosystem where they did not originate (ex. The Kudzu vine)– Because they are not native, they have no natural

predators. They can reproduce out of control, taking over resources and affecting the balance in an ecosystem.

Conservation

• Conservation Biology: Field of Biology interested in preserving biodiversity of ecosystems

• Reintroduction: Programs designed to reintroduce injured animals back to their natural environment after rehabilitation

• Captivity: Zoos or nature sanctuaries often function to help improve numbers of endangered species

• Wildlife laws and clean water and air acts also help to promote healthy, stable ecosystems

BIOSPHERE PRACTICE QUESTIONSMultiple Choice

1. Which is a biotic factor that could affect an ecosystem?

a) Dust storms moving through an ecosystem

b) Bacteria harming the health of organisms in an ecosystem

c) Large amounts of acid rain precipitation seeping into the soil of an ecosystem

d) High levels of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere within an ecosystem

2. Classify the relationship between flowing plants and bees, where the plant provides the bee with food and the bee spreads pollen for the plant.

A. Commensalism

B. Mutualism

C. Parasitism

D. Predation

3. An organism has been introduced to a habitat where the organism did not originate. Because the organism did not originate in this habitat, they have no natural predators. What will most likely happen?

A. The organism will die shortly

B. The organism will learn to live harmoniously with the other native species

C. The organism will reproduce rapidly and could possibly have several negative effects on the habitat

D. There will be no affect, either positive or negative, on the habitat

4. Which activity would be most destructive to the biodiversity of the biosphere?

A. The burning of wood and coal in rural areas

B. The release of species of freshwater trout in lakes

C. The removal of plants from the food webs they support

D. The removal of erosion barriers from forest boundaries

5. In an ecosystem, abiotic factors and biotic factors can have relationships just as biotic factors may also have with one another. Which of the following is an example of a biotic/abiotic relationship?

A. A deer eats grass

B. A bird lives in a tree

C. A lynx eats a rabbit

D. A plant absorbs water