Download - Catalyst

TESC 211 Homework Problem Set 2
Due Wednesday 26th October at start of class
1. Distinguish between the biotic and the abiotic environmental factors of an ecosystem.
2. Define and compare the terms species, population, association and ecosystem.
3. Compared with an ecosystem what are an ecotone, landscape, biome and biosphere?
4. Name and describe the roles of the three main trophic categories that make up the biotic
structure of every ecosystem. Give examples of organisms from each category.
5. Differentiate between the concepts of food chain, food web and trophic levels.
6. Navigate your browser to the site:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/
Review the first 1 hour of the Frontline documentary “Poisoned Waters” and using the resources
available at the site write a short discussion (~300 words) addressing the following points.
a. What are Endocrine disruptors?
b. How do endocrine disruptors enter our waterways?
c. What are some of the challenges associated with assessing the impact of endocrine
disruptors?
d. What are some of the ways endocrine disruptors are believed to have impacted the
environment?