Download MCA Review Part II: Interdependence Among Living Systems

MCA REVIEW PART II:
INTERDEPENDENCE AMONG
LIVING SYSTEMS
Ecology

Standard 1.1-2: The interrelationship and
interdependence of organisms generate dynamic
biological communities in ecosystems.
Ecology
Terms (pg 372-380):
Ecology: the study of the interactions among living things and their surroundings
Population: a group of the same species that lives in one area
Community: a group of different species that live together in the same area
Ecosystem: includes all of the organisms as well as the climate, soil, water,
rocks, and other nonliving things in an area
Biodiversity: the variety of living things in an ecosystem
Keystone Species: a species that has an unusually large effect on an
ecosystem
Ecology
Carrying Capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that the
environment can consistently support. Resource availability gives structure to a community
in an ecosystem.
1. What resources do species compete over that affect the carrying capacity of an
ecosystem?
Food, Water, Shelter
2. What is competitive exclusion?
When two species are competing for the same resources, one species will be better
suited to the niche, and the other species will be pushed into another niche or
become extinct.
a. What are two outcomes of competitive exclusion? Identify AND describe each one.
1. Niche Partitioning: when two species naturally divide different resources
based on competitive advantages.
2. Evolutionary Response: the two species could experience divergent
evolution
When closely related species evolve in different directions and become
increasingly different
Ecological Interactions
3. Describe/define each type of interaction below, give an example,
and indicate whether the interaction is +/+, +/-, or +/o
a. Predation: when one organism captures and feeds upon
another organism +/b. Symbiosis: a close ecological relationship between two or
more organisms of different species that live in direct contact
with one another
1. Mutualism: an interspecies interaction in which both
organisms benefit +/+
2. Commensalism: a relationship between two organisms
in which one receives an ecological benefit, while the
other neither benefits nor is harmed
3. Parasitism: one organism benefits while the other is
harmed.
Population – Natural Limits
4. Changes in a population’s size are determined by what four
factors? Describe each one.
1. Immigration: the movement of individuals into a
population from another population
2. Births/Natality
3. Emigration: the movement of individuals out of a
population and into another population
4. Deaths/Fatality
Population Growth Types
5. Again, population growth is based on
available resources. What are two
types of population growth? Explain
and draw a labeled graph for each
type.
1. Exponential Growth: when a
population size increases
dramatically over a period of time.
2. Logistic Growth: when a population
begins with a period of slow growth
followed by a brief period of
exponential growth before leveling
off at a stable size.
Limiting Factors
6. Read about carrying
capacity on pg 416.
Populations will rise and fall
as a result of what? As a
result, what naturally controls
the size of a population?
The Environment
7. What is a limiting factor?
A factor that has the
greatest effect in keeping
down the size of a
population
Limiting Factors
8. What are two categories of limiting factors?
Give examples of each one.
a. Density-dependent Factor: limiting factors
affected by the # of individuals in a given
area
1. Predation
2. Competition
3. Parasitism and Disease
b. Density-independent Factor: aspects of the
environment that limit a population’s growth
regardless of the density of the population
1. Unusual Weather
2. Natural Disasters
3. Human Activity
Matter and Energy

Standard 2.1-2: Matter cycles and energy flows
through different levels of organization of living
systems and the physical environment, as
chemical elements are combined in different
ways.
Matter and Energy
Pg 94-96.
The need for energy is a
characteristic of ALL living
things.
1. What is the major energy
molecule used for most cell
processes?
ATP
It transfers energy from the
breakdown of food
molecules to cell
processes?
Matter and Energy
2. Define AND write the chemical equation for
Photosynthesis. Label which side of the
equation includes the reactants and which
side includes the products. Pg 97-99.
Photosynthesis: the process that captures
energy from sunlight to make sugars that
store chemical energy.
3. What is the name of the primary pigment
molecule involved in photosynthesis and what
does it do?
Chlorophyll – absorbs energy
4. What types of organisms do photosynthesis?
Producers/Plants
Matter and Energy
5. Define AND write the chemical equation for
Cell Respiration. Label which side of the
equation includes the reactants and which
side includes the products. Pg 107-109.
Cell Respiration: releases chemical energy
from sugars and other carbon-based
molecules to make ATP
6. What types of organisms do cell
respiration?
Plants, Animals, Other Eukaryotes
Connecting….
7. Why is cell respiration like a mirror image of photosynthesis?
Because they are essentially the opposite/reverse of one another
8. Explain how the image below shows that photosynthesis and cell
respiration are related.
-Chloroplasts absorb energy and build sugars, O2 is released
as a waste product
-Mitochondria break down sugars to release energy, water and
CO2 are released
Matter and Energy
9. From your big arrow diagram, explain how matter cycles:
Matter changes form but does not disappear, it can be
used over and over again in a continuous cycle.
Ex: Crushed rock  Sand  Minerals
10. From your big arrow diagram, explain how energy cycles.
How much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the
next?
Energy cycles from one trophic level to the next
Ex: Sun  Producers  Consumers
Only 10% of available energy is transferred from one
trophic level to the next.
11. From your big arrow diagram, producers and consumer play
an important role in ecosystems. What other type of
organism play a particularly important role. Why are they
so important?
Detritivores/Decomposers: help return dead and decaying
materials back into useable materials (minerals)