Download Chapter 3 Review Questions

Unit 3 The Living Environment Review- Chapters 5,6,7,9
1. Compare and Contrast Kinetic energy and Potential energy. Give an
example of each.
2. Define matter and energy.
3. Define the Law of Conservation of Matter.
4. Describe the first and second law of thermodynamics.
5. What is entropy?
6. Differentiate between high quality energy and low quality energy.
7. Differentiate between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
8. Understand the basics on photosynthesis and cellular respirationreactants, products, what they occur in, where they occur. Construct a
diagram from the biogeochemical cycles to demonstrate your knowledge of
these processes.
9. Define abiotic and biotic, give several examples
10. Distinguish between a species, population, community, ecosystem, biome,
biosphere.
11. Compare the following: producers, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers.
12. Differentiate between scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers.
Theorize why are these niches so important to an ecosystem?
13. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
14. Show by a diagram what the direction of the arrows demonstrate in a food
web. How is this related to energy pyramids?
15. Describe the trophic levels of the ecological pyramid and how the
“Ecological Rule of Thumb” applies to the energy pyramid.
16. Describe how a pyramid of numbers is different from a pyramid of
biomass.
17. Differentiate between GPP and NPP. How would you calculate them?
18. Why is it better for humans to eat at the primary consumer level vs. higher
trophic levels? Theorize how this change in eating habits would impact
America in both positive and negative ways. (think about economics and
general health) See chapter 9 for information!
19. What happens to energy as it travels from one energy level to the next?
20. Ultimately, where does all energy come from for living organisms?
21. Relate the Law of Conservation of Matter to energy flow and
biogeochemical cycles.
22. Why is carbon such an important element to living organisms?
23. Know the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles. How do these
compounds travel through living and nonliving things? Why is each
compound important? What do we use it for? How are humans altering
these cycles? Know Nitrogen cycle vocabulary!! From handout.
24. Differentiate between Darwin and Lamark’s theories of evolution.
25. Who was Charles Darwin and what is his well known theory?
26. Explain the peppered moth story. What does this demonstrate?
27. What is a mutation, how does it relate to Darwin's theory?
28. How are some organisms used as environmental indicators? Give an
example.
29. Describe how humans have influenced evolution.
30. Differentiate between habitat & niche.
31. Differentiate between generalist species and specialists.
32. What is the Law of Competitive Exclusion?
33. When does coevolution occur?
34. Contrast interspecific and intraspecific competition
35. Define predator, prey, pathogen, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism
36. Define keystone species and provide an example
37. Define symbiosis. Name three types and give examples for each one.
38. What are the two types of mimicry used by animals as defense
mechanisms?
39. Describe the properties that make up a community
40. What does community productivity mean?
41. What ecosystems are the most productive? What traits do these
ecosystems have that make them so productive?
42. How is abundance & diversity related to community structure?
43. What is vertical distribution? Example of this.
44. What are the four patterns generally seen for distribution of members of a
population? What does each pattern indicate?
45. Distinguish between primary, and secondary succession.
46. In an ecosystem, what terms refer to the number of species at each trophic
level and the number of trophic levels in each community?
47. Review/complete the handout on Ecosystem Stability that was given out in
class. Pay special attention to Keystone species.
48. Identify several introduced species and know their stories.
49. Calculations with NO CALCULATOR!!! I am serious!! Know how to
manipulate numbers relating to energy storage and usage. See homework
handouts.
50.
Advice: 1. study your notes and read the book 2. Take
responsibility for your own learning.
Possible essay topics:
1. Steps of any of the biogeochemical cycles. How do humans alter these cycles?
Are there specific pollutants created by humans which affect these cycles?
Describe specific human activity which creates these environmental problems
and solutions to each. When considering the nitrogen cycle how does it cycle
from abiotic to biotic components of the ecosystem? Where is the primary
storage sink for nitrogen? How does the phosphorous cycle differ from the
nitrogen cycle?
2. Calculate energy produced like in “Eating at a lower Trophic Level”. List some
of the advantages for eating at a lower trophic level include how land use and
energy use will change if Americans ate on a lower trophic level. Describe any
advantages/disadvantages to human health for eating less meat.