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ICS Final Exam Study Guide
Chapter 3 The Biosphere
3-1 What is Ecology?


What is ecology? Study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
What three methods do scientists rely on to apply scientific methods for ecological inquiry? Observing, experimenting
and modeling.
Vocabulary
Ecology- is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment, or surroundings
Biosphere- contains the combines portions of the planet in which all of life exists, including land, water, and the air or
atmosphere.
Species- Is a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Population- groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.
Communities- assemblages of different populations that live together in a defined area.
Ecosystem- is a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving or physical,
environment.
Biome- is a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.
Review questions:
1. All of
a)
b)
c)
d)
life of earth exists in a region known as:
an ecosystem
a biome
biosphere
ecology
2. Groups of species that live together in a defined area make up a:
a) Population
b) Community
c) Ecosystem
d) Biosphere
3-2 Energy Flow

Sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth. In a few ecosystems, some organisms rely on the energy stored in
inorganic chemical compounds.

Energy flows through the ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers)
and then to various heterotrophs (consumers)

Only about 10 % of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level. The
other 90% is used by the organisms for performing important life processes and lost as heat. Important life processes
include reproduction, protein synthesis, digestion of food for energy, making new cells, movement, etc.
Vocabulary
Autotrophs- also known as producers, autotrophs are organisms that can make their own food for energy; only plants, some
algae, and certain bacteria can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce food.
Producers- also known as autotrophs, producers are organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to
produce food from inorganic compounds (chemical substances with little or no carbon atoms).
Photosynthesis- a process used by plants to make their own food, photosynthesis consists of a series of chemical reactions that
convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.
Chemosynthesis- when organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates such as sugars and starches
Heterotrophs- organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply; heterotrophs consume (eat) other
organisms for their energy.
Consumers- also known as heterotrophs, consumers rely on or eat other organisms for their energy and food supply.
Herbivores- organisms that obtain energy by eating mostly plants.
Carnivores- organisms that obtain energy by eating mostly animals.
Omnivores- organisms that obtain energy by eating both plants and animals.
Detritivores- organisms that feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter for their energy.
Decomposers- organisms that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter.
Food chain- a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.
Food web- links all the food chains in an ecosystem together and shows the flow of energy between all the organisms living in an
ecosystem.
Trophic level- each step in a food chain or food web.
Ecological pyramid- is a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food
chain or food web.
Biomass- is total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.
Review Questions:
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1. Autotrophs are organisms that:
a) rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply.
b) consume plant and animal remains and other dead matter.
c) use energy they take in from the environment to convert inorganic molecules into complex organic molecules.
d) obtain energy by eating only plant.
2. The series of steps in which a large fish eats a small fish that has eaten algae is a:
a) food web.
b) food chain.
c) pyranid of numbers.
d) biomass pyramid.
3-3 Cycles of Matter

Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Every living organism needs nutrients to grow and carry out essential life functions. Like water, nutrients are passed between
organisms and the environment through biogeochemical cycles.
Vocabulary:
Biogeochemical cycles- elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and
from one part of the biosphere to another.
Evaporation - is the process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas.
Transpiration- lost of water from a plant through its leaves
Nutrients- are all chemical substances that an organism need to sustain life.
Nitrogen fixation- is the process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Denitrification- is the process where soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.
Primary productivity- is the rate at which organic matter is created by producers.
Limiting nutrient- a nutrient that is either scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms within an ecosystem
Algal bloom- is the result of an immediate increase in the amount of algae and other producers that result from a large input of a
limiting nutrient.
Review Questions:
1.Nutrients move through an ecosystem in:
a) biogeochemical cycles.
b) water cycles.
c) energy pyramids.
d) ecological pyramids.
2.When an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that either is scarce or cycle very slowly, this substance is called a:
a) nitrogen compound.
b) limiting nutrient
c) pyramid of numbers.
d )biomass pyramid.
Chapter 4 Ecosystems and Communities
4-1 The Role of Climate

Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s
temperature range.

As a result of differences in latitude and thus the angle of heating, Earth has three main climate zones: polar, temperate,
and tropical.
Vocabulary:
Weather- is the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Climate- the average, year-after-year condition of temperature and precipitation in a particular region.
Greenhouse effect- the natural situation in which heat is retained by a layer of greenhouse gases.
Polar zones- cold area where the sun’s rays strike Earth at a very low angle.
Temperate zones- more affected by the changing angle of the sun over the course of a year, the climate in these zones ranges
from hot to cold, depending on the season.
Tropical zone- is near the equator, between 23.5 degrees North and 23.5 degrees South latitudes.
Review Questions:
1.The average, year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation within a particular region is known as:
a) weather.
b) climate.
c) greenhouse effect.
d) biotic factors.
2.The greenhouse effect causes an increase in:
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a) carbon dioxide.
b) temperture.
c) oxygen.
d) water.
4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem?

Together, biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the
ecosystem in which the organism lives.

Community interactions, such as competition, predation, and various forms of symbiosis, can powerfully affect an
ecosystem.

Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances. As an ecosystem changes, older
inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further change in the community.
Vocabulary:
Biotic factor- the biological influence on organisms within an ecosystem.
Abiotic factor- physical, or nonliving factors that shape ecosystems.
Niche- is the full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses
those conditions
Resource- refers to any necessity of life.
Competitive exclusion principle- states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.
Predation- an interaction in which one organism captures and feed on another organism.
Symbiosis- any relationship in which two species live closely together.
Mutualism- a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the relationship.
Commensalism- a relationship where one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
Parasitism- a relationship where one organism lives on or insides another organism and harms it.
Ecologial succession- this series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time.
Primary succession- succession that occur on surface where no soil exists.
Pioneer species- the first species to populate the area.
Secondary succession- succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil.
Review Questions:
1. A relationship in which one organism is helped and another organism is neither helped nor hurt is called:
a) mutualism.
b) parasitism.
c) competition.
d) commensalim.
2. A form of symbiosis in which both organisms benefit is called:
a) mutualism.
b) parasitism.
c) commensalisms
d) predation.
4-3 Biomes

The world’s major biomes include tropical rain forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savanna, temperate grassland, desert,
temperate woodland and shrubland, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest, and tundra. Each of
these biomes is defined by a unique set of abiotic factors-particularly climate-and has a characteristic ecological
community.
Vocabulary:
Biome- is a complex of terrestrial communities that covers a large area and is charities by certain soil and climate conditions and
particular assemblages of plants and animals.
Tolerance- ability to survive and reproduce under conditions that differ from their optimal conditions.
Microclimate- the climate in a small area that differ from the climate around.
Canopy- the leafy tops of tall trees-extending from 50 to 80 meters above the forest floor-from a dense covering.
Understory- a second layer of shorter trees and vein forms.
Deciduous- trees that sheds its leaves during a particular season each year.
Coniferous- trees, or conifers, produce seed-bearing cones, and most have leaves shaped like needles.
Humus- a material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter that makes soil fertile.
Taiga- along the northern edge of the temperate zone are dense evergreen forest of coniferous trees.
Permafrost- a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.
Review Questions:
1. In a tropical rain forest, the dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall trees is called the
a) canopy.
b) taiga.
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c) niche.
d) understory.
2. Organisms that live near or on the ocean floor are called
a) parasites.
b) benthos.
c) plankton.
d) mangroves.
Chapter 5 Populations
5-1 How Population Grow

Three important characteristics of a population are its geographic distribution, density, and growth rate.

Three factors affect population size: the number of births, the number of deaths, and the number of individuals that
enter or leave the population.

Under ideal c conditions and unlimited resources, a population will continue to grow in a pattern called exponential
growth. As resources are used up and population growth slows or stops, the population exhibits logistic growth.
Vocabulary:
Population density- is the number of individuals per units area.
Immigration- the movement of individuals into an area, is another factor that can cause a population to grow.
Emigration- the movement of individuals out of an area, can cause a population to decrease in size.
Exponential growth- occur when the individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate.
Logistic growth- occurs when a population’s growth slows or stops following a period of exponential growth.
Carrying capacity- the environment for a particular species.
Review Questions:
1.The number of individuals of a single species per unit area is known as
a) carrying capacity.
b) logistic growth.
c) population density.
d) population growth rate.
2. The movement of individuals into an area is called
a) demography.
b) carrying capacity.
c) immigration.
d) emigration.
5-2 Limits to Growth

Density-dependent limiting factors include competition, predation, parasitism, and disease.

Unusual weather, natural disaster, seasonal cycles, and certain human activities-such as damming rivers and clear-cutting
forests-are all examples of density-independent limiting factors.
Vocabulary:
Limiting factor- is a factor that causes population growth to decrease.
Density- dependent limiting factor-a limiting factor that depends on population size.
Predator- prey relationship-one of the best known mechanisms of population control.
Density-independent limiting factors- affect all populations similar ways, regardless of the population size.
Review Question:
1. A limiting factor that depends on population size is called a:
a) density-dependent limiting factor.
b) obesity-independent limiting factor.
c) predator-prey relationship
d) parasitic relationship.
2. Density-independent limiting factor include:
a) predation.
b) hurricanes.
c) competition.
d) parasitism.
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5-3 Human Population Growth

Like the population of many other living organisms, the size of the human population tends to increase with time.

The characteristics of populations, and the social and economic factors that affect them, explain why some countries
have high population growth rates while population of other countries grow slowly or not at all.
Vocabulary:
Demography- the scientific study of human populations.
Demographic transition- a dramatic change in birth and death rate.
Age-structure diagrams- population profiles.
Review Questions:
1. The scientific study of human population is called:
a) immigration.
b) emigration.
c) demographic transition.
d) demography.
2. The demographic transition is complete when:
a) population growth stops.
b) the birthrate is greater than the death rate.
c) the death rate begins to fall.
d) the death rate is greater than the birthrate.
Chapter 15 Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
15-1 The Puzzle of Life’s Diversity

During his travels, Charles Darwin made numerous observation and collected evidence that led him to propose a
revolutionary hypothesis about the way life changes over time.

Darwin observed that the characteristics of many animals and plant varied noticeably among the different islands of the
Galapagos.
Vocabulary:
Evolution- is the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
Theory- is a well-supported testable explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world.
Fossils- the preserved remains of ancient organisms.
Review Questions:
1.Who observed variations in the characteristic of animals and plants on the different islands of the Galapagos?
a) James Hutton
b) Charles Lyell
c) Charles Darwin
d) Thomas Malthus
2. In addition to observing living organisms, Darwin studied the preserved remains of ancient organisms, called
a) fossils.
b) adaptations.
c) homologous structures.
d) vestigial organs.
15-2 Ideas That Shaped Darwin’s Thinking

Hutton and Lyell helped scientists realize that Earth is many millions of years old, and the processes that change Earth in
past are the same processes that operate in present.

Lamarck proposed that by selective use or disuse of organs, organism acquired or lost certain traits during their lifetime.
These traits could then be passes on to their offspring. Over time, this process led to change in a species.

Malthus reasoned that if the human population continued to grow unchecked, sooner or later there would be insufficient
living space and food for everyone.
Review Questions:
1.Which of the following ideas proposed by Lamarck was later found to be incorrect?
a) Acquired characteristics can be inherited.
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b) All species were descended from other species.
c) Living things change over time.
d) Organisms are adapted to their environments.
2. Differences among individuals of a species are referred to as:
a) natural variation.
b) fitness.
c) natural selection.
d) adaptation.
15-3 Darwin Presents His Case

In artificial selection, nature provides the variation among different organisms, and humans select those variations that
they find useful.

Over time, natural selection result in changes in the inherited characteristic of a population. These changes increase a
species’ fitness in its environment.

Darwin argued that living things have been evolving on Earth for millions of years. Evidence for this process could be
found in the fossil record, the geographical distribution of living species, homologous structures of living organisms, and
similarities in early development, or embryology.
Vocabulary:
Artificial selection- selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms.
Struggle for existence- that member of each species compete regularly to obtain food, living space, and other necessities of life.
Fitness- is the result of adaptations.
Adaptation- is any inherited characteristic that increase an organism’s chance of survival.
Survival of the fittest- survive and reproduce most successfully.
Natural selection- only certain individuals of population produce new individuals.
Descent with modification- principle that each living species has descended, with change, from other species over time.
Common descent- principle that living things were derived from common ancestors.
Homologous structures- structures that have different mature forms but develop from the same embryonic tissues.
Vestigial organs- may resemble miniature legs, tails, or other structures.
Review Questions:
1.An inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its specific environment is
called a(an):
a) vestigial organ.
b) adaptation.
c) speciation.
d) radiation.
Chapter 6 Humans in the Biosphere
6-1 A changing landscape

Among human activities that affect the biosphere are hunting and gathering, agriculture, industry, and urban
development.
6-3 Biodiversity

Biodiversity is one of Earth’s greatest natural resources. Many species have provided us with foods, industrial products,
and medicines—including painkillers, antibiotics, heart drugs, antidepressants, and anticancer drugs.

Human activity can reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting species to extinction, introducing toxic compounds
into food webs, and introducing foreign species to new environments.

Today, conservation efforts focus on protecting entire ecosystems as well as single species. Protecting an ecosystem will
ensure that the natural habitats and interactions of many different species are preserved at the same time.
Vocabulary:
biodiversity— the sum total of the variety of organisms in the biosphere
species diversity— the number of different species in the biosphere
ecosystem diversity— variety of habitats, living communities, and ecological processes in the living world
invasive species— plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native
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