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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
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An ecosystem could survive without which organisms?
An ecosystem could survive without consumers. Consumers are not vital to the existence of an
ecosystem.
A poison that accumulated in the tissues of organisms affect which organisms the most?
Consumers. If poison accumulates in the flesh of animals, their predators would be most
affected.
A poison that accumulated in soil affect which organisms the most?
Producers. If poison accumulates in the soil, producers that use the organic matter in soil would
be affected most.
Energy flows through an ecosystem in the form of chemical bonds between carbon molecules.
90% of this energy is lost how?
To conduct biological process like homeostasis and cell division, and lost as heat.
A missing species has the largest effect on an ecosystem if it is what type?
A producer (as these organisms introduce energy into the environments)
-Or- a Keystone species—vital to the functionality of an ecosystem. Removing this one species
results in detrimental effects. Ex. Sea otter
10% versus 90% rule in energy flow in ecosystems
As energy flows up in a food chain/web, 10% of it is actually transferred up to the next trophic
level, while the other 90% is lost as heat.
The role of producers in an ecosystem. Why are they important?
Producers introduce energy into an ecosystem. Without producers, there would not be an
Ecosystem because there would be no way for energy to be introduced into the ecosystem.
Introducing a nonnative/invasive exotic species has the ability to harm an ecosystem in what
way?
Exotic species are a threat because native species cannot defend themselves. Native species
have not acquired the adaptations to compete so exotic species usually thrive initially.
If a population continues to increase exponentially over years, how can this be explained?
The birth rate of that population exceeds the death rate.
Biome definition and examples.
A biome is a group of ecosystems that have climate, vegetation, and animals in common. Ex:
deciduous forest, temperate grasslands, desert.
Predator, Prey – definitions and examples of each
Predator-hunts other organisms (snake)
Prey—is hunted by another organism (mouse)
Carnivore, herbivore, detritivores, decomposer –definitions and examples
Carnivore: eats meat/other consumers
Herbivore—eats producers/autotrophs
Detritivore—feed on decomposing plant and animal parts
Decomposer—an organism that decomposes organic material
Commensalism, competition, mutualism, parasitism and examples of each
Commensalism—one organism is benefitted, the other is neither affected nor harmed.
Competition—both organisms harmed
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
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Parasitism—one organism benefitted, the other harmed (host)
Mutualism—both organisms benefitted
Abiotic vs biotic factors
Abiotic—nonliving factors in an ecosystem
Biotic—living factors in an ecosystem
Ecosystem, population, community, organism (definitions and examples)
Ecosystem—a community and the abiotic factors
Population—a group of the same species living in the same place at the same time
Community-- a group of various species living in the same place at the same time
Organism—a living being (species)
Temperate grasslands and characteristics
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
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What is an estuary?
Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet
the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to
brackish water—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater.
Deciduous forest characteristics and plant adaptations
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
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Desert characteristics and animal adaptations
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Taiga characteristics and plant adaptations
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Tropical rain forest characteristics. Where do most animals live? Most animals live in the trees
where there is more to eat.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
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Coniferous forests plant adaptations
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Tundra characteristics and plant and animal adaptations
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Chaparral characteristics and plant life
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
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Savanna characteristics and animal adaptations
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
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Primary succession and pioneer species
Development or growth in an area where there has never been any life. Soil must be created.
Lichens and Fungi are pioneer species.
Secondary succession and pioneer species
Development or growth in an area after a disturbance. Grasses and weeds usually first pioneer
species.
What is climate and what are determining factors?
Climate is determine by latitude and altitude. The weather conditions prevailing in an area in
general or over a long period
Climax community
Growth of all species in a community that has reached a steady state. Climax communities are
theoretical and does not usually occur.
Effects of Deforestation
Deforestation is detrimental to species because it eliminates habitats.
Which factor is a major cause of global warming/climate change?
CO2 emissions are a major cause of global warming and climate change.
What is a pheromone?
a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially a
mammal or an insect, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species
How does water vapor enter the air?
Heat from the Sun causes water to evaporate from the surface of lakes and oceans. This turns
the liquid water into water vapor in the atmosphere. Plants, too, help water get into the
atmosphere through a process called transpiration!
Different types of pollution and examples.
Biological, thermal, chemical, solid, radiation (please review notes for examples)