Fall Semester Review
2013
Biodiversity
• What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an ecosystem.
• Variety in species
• Of species
• Of ecosystems
What makes and ecosystem more stable?
More Links in the food chain If something wipes out
one particular species
it doesn’t cause the
ecosystem to collapse.
What is sustainability?
• It is the ability of an ecosystem to continue to flourish despite stress. It is able to maintain its structure and function over time.
• High biodiversity= high sustainability
• Low biodiversity= Low sustainability
Why biodiversity is important
• Biodiversity provides stability in and ecosystem
• It provides a variety of food sources
• It provides a variety of habitats
• It creates and an environment that is less susceptible to disaster or disease
More Biodiversity = More Sustainability More Links = More Stable
More Different Types = Healthier Ecosystem
• Microhabitats and Biomes
• Why do they support different organisms?
– Because the abiotic factors vary for each one – What are the most important abiotic factors?
• Water and Temperature
• Each environment leads to organisms with different types of adaptations to survive
– Examples?
10A observe and observe describe how different environments, describe including microhabitats in schoolyards and biomes,
support different varieties of organisms
Biomes
A biome is a group of ecosystems with similar climates that cover a large section of land.
Different biomes support different types of organisms.
There are 6 major
biomes see your notebook
For more details.
Tropical Rain Forest
– Found in warm regions close to equator – Lots of rain, sun and heat
– Scientists have discovered over 300 different kinds of
trees in a 100 meter square
Adaptations
An adaptation is a characteristic that an organism has that allows it to be able to
survive. Organisms that live in the different biomes have adaptations for the climate of that biome.
Ex. Waxy leaves on cacti- dry climate
Polar bear blubber- cold climate
Falling leaves- changing climate
Desert Adaptations
Plants
• Low to the ground
• Thick, waxy leaves store water (succulants)
• Thorns for protection
• Specialized photosynthesis
Animals
• burrow
• Nocturnal
• Inactive during the day
Click here to see more desert plants and animals
Prairie Grassland
Climate: Moderate temperatures and intermediate rainfall (more than desert but less than deciduous forest)
Can be short and tall grasses Few trees
Large part of the United States Including parts of
Texas
Prairie Adaptations
Plants
• Small leaves
• Widespread deep roots
• bulbs
Animals
• Burrow
• Nocturnal
• Camoflauge
• grazers
Click here to see more prairie plants and animals
Organic Compounds Organic Compounds
Things that are made up of carbon and other elements such as
nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or hydrogen. “CHONPS ” ”
Examples: carbohydrates, fats, Examples: carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, nucleic acids (DNA)- all of proteins, nucleic acids (DNA)- all of
which are found in the human which are found in the human
body.
body.
Things that are made up of carbon and other elements such as
nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or hydrogen. “CHONPS ” ”
Examples: carbohydrates, fats, Examples: carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, nucleic acids (DNA)- all of proteins, nucleic acids (DNA)- all of
which are found in the human which are found in the human
body.
body.
Describe the stages of primary succession.
• Bare rock (no life exists) weathering of rock
• Lichen and moss help weather rock
• Soil is formed
• Grasses and weeds
• Small shrubs and trees and smaller plants begin to die out
• Trees reach maturity
• Climax community
Describe the stages of secondary succession.
• A disturbance occurs leaving bare soil
• Grasses and weeds
• Small shrubs and trees and smaller plants begin to die out
• Trees reach maturity
• Climax community
What is the ultimate goal of succession in an ecosystem
To reach equilibrium (climax community)
• What are the natural disasters we discussed?
• How do floods impact ecosystems?
• How do hurricanes impact ecosystems?
• How do tornadoes impact ecosystems?
Increase weathering/erosion!
Change Earth’s Crust
Displace animals, damage habitats!
8A predict and describe predict describe how different types of
catastrophic events impact ecosystems such as floods,
hurricanes, or tornadoes
5A recognizerecognize that radiant energy is transformed into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis
6H
2O + 6CO
2+ sunlightC
6H
12O
6+ 6H
20
How energy flows through How energy flows through
ecosystems ecosystems
How energy flows through How energy flows through
ecosystems ecosystems
•Comes in as sunlight
•Leaves as heat
•Passed along food chains from producer to consumer
•DOES NOT CYCLE!!
Sun Food Chain Heat
Sun Food Chain Heat
•Comes in as sunlight
•Leaves as heat
•Passed along food chains from producer to consumer
•DOES NOT CYCLE!!
Sun Food Chain Heat
Sun Food Chain Heat
As energy moves up in the pyramid the organism uses 90% of what it receives for life processes and heat
energy and gives 10% to the next level consumer.
This energy is measured in calories.
Energy Pyramid 10%rule Energy Pyramid 10%rule
An energy pyramid shows the amount of available energy
available energy at feeding levels in an ecosystem.
From one level to the next only 10% is
available for the next organisms use 90%
is used for growth and some escapes as
In an ecosystem heat producers have the producers most most energy Those at the top have the least
amount of energy available to them.
The producers producers in an ecosystem have the largest population size
largest population size and the populations decrease as you move up the pyramid
An energy pyramid shows the amount of available energy
available energy at feeding levels in an ecosystem.
From one level to the next only 10% is
available for the next organisms use 90%
is used for growth and some escapes as
In an ecosystem producers heat producers have the most most energy Those at the top have the least
amount of energy available to them.
The producers producers in an ecosystem have the largest population size
largest population size and the populations
decrease as you move up the pyramid
Autotrophs vs. heterotrophs
Autotrophs are producers and make their own food through the process of photosynthesis
Heterotrophs are consumers
What do all of these organisms have in What do all of these organisms have in
common?
common?
• Food Chain
• Food Web
• Energy Pyramid
5C diagram the flow of energy through living systems, with food diagram chains, food webs, and energy pyramid
5B demonstrate and demonstrate explain the cycling of matter within living explain systems such as in the decay of biomass in a compost bin
Nutrient Cycle
From our exploration of food chains we saw that decomposers play an
important role in returning nutrients to the ecosystem. Let’s take a closer look.
From our exploration of food chains we saw that decomposers play an
important role in returning nutrients
to the ecosystem. Let’s take a closer
look.
DECOMPOSERS Are…
DECOMPOSERS Are…
Fungi, bacteria, or mold that break down dead biomass and returns nutrients (C,H,O,N,P,S) to the soil to be used again by plants.
Decomposes cycle matter, not energy!!
Fungi, bacteria, or mold that break down dead biomass and returns nutrients (C,H,O,N,P,S) to the soil to be used again by plants.
Decomposes cycle matter, not
energy!!
Composting Composting
combination of biomass and organic matter that decays naturally.
Compost bin might include: soil, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, newspapers etc.
combination of biomass and organic matter that decays naturally.
Compost bin might include: soil,
grass clippings, kitchen scraps,
newspapers etc.
• What is work?
– Moving an object with a force over a distance – W = F X D
• What is not work?
– Carrying a box: No Force
– Pushing a table: No movement
7A contrast situations where work is done with different amounts of contrast force to situations where no work is done such as moving a box with
a ramp and without a ramp, or standing still
Which requires more work?
A B
5ft 10ft
Answer: B. B will require more work because the object is being lifted a
greater distance. (If the boxes were the same height and only the steepness changes, then the same amount of work would be done because the force changes.
Less force less distance
More force (steeper) more distance
(higher)
With these two ramps work would be the same
A B
5ft 5ft
More force less distance Less force more distance
• Simple Machines: How do they effect work?
• Ramp:
– Decreases force
– Same amount of work
• Which ramp uses more work to push a box ?
7A contrast situations where work is done with different amounts of contrast force to situations where no work is done such as moving a box with
a ramp and without a ramp, or standing still
5m 5m
Weathering and erosion
• Oxidation, acid rain and living organisms are all agents of _______________ weathering. chemical
oxidation
Limestone caverns formthrough central Texas Sink holes form when caverns collapse
Weathering and erosion
• Freezing and thawing, animal actions and abrasion are all agents of __________
weathering.
mechanical
Freezing and thawing Abrasion formed these arches in the Arches national park in Utah
Protecting watersheds
Buildings and parking lots:
• Prevent water from entering the groundwater (aquifer)supply
• Increase runoff
(fertilizers, chemicals etc )
Into surface water
Well usage
Adding homes, buildings and parking lots would decrease the amount of water available in the aquifer and increase the amount of run off of
fertilizers, oil etc.
Adding a well in any area is going to decrease the amount of water in the aquifer
Here’s our well
Groundwater erosion
This is a picture of Inner space Caverns in Georgetown this is a natural formation. Much of central Texas has limestone rock layers beneath the surface. This rock weathers chemically when carbonic acid seeps through forming openings beneath the surface over thousands of years.
