Chapter 1.1
1. A biological adaptation is an inherited characteristic. For example, a weasel’s
coat turns color depending on the season. Cat’s claws are an adaptation.
2. The organism will die if it is not able to adjust to the new changes or move to
another environment. If it can survive, over time it may develop new adaptations
that will help it “fit” the new environment.
3. Important words:
a) biotic: living organism
b) abiotic: non-living things
c) organisms: living things
d) ecologist: a scientist who studies the biotic parts of the environment and
their interactions with the abiotic parts
e) individual is one organism
f) biological population: a group of individuals of the same species, living
together in one place at one time.
g) Species: is a group of organisms who can successfully reproduce among
themselves
h) Biological community: is made up of all the populations that live in one
area.
i) Habitat: a particular place where a species lives
j) Adaptation: an inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and
reproduce in its environment
Chapter 1.2
1.
The main parts of an ecosystem include abiotic and biotic elements. Abiotic
elements include the Sun, air, soil, and water. Biotic elements include insects,
animals, and plants.
2. 5 different ecosystems found in a National Park are: lake/pond, forest, flower
bed, tree, waterfall, and grasslands, meadows.
3. a) two examples of how plants are adapted for interactions with abiotic factors
in their environments are:
i) Plants grow toward the sunlight so they can make their own food through
photosynthesis.
ii) Some plants are able to store water in their stems so they can survive during dry
conditions.
Chapter 1.3
1.
Quadrats are used to sample ecosystems because they cover a precise,
manageable area that can be examined in a short time. Quadrats are placed on a
small area that is representative of the entire ecosystem. They are made of
meter sticks or string.
2. A quadrat is used to estimate the population sizes in an ecosystem by
multiplying the number of organisms in a quadrat by the number of quadrats that
fit into the total ecosystem. The result is only an estimate because you have not
done an actual count of the entire ecosystem.
3. It would be useful to do two population studies of the same ecosystem, with a
period of time between the studies because it will show any changes that have
occurred in the abiotic and biotic elements. These changes could be a result of
variables such as the changes in the weather or local development.
4. (5) a) How could you sample the number of insects in a large tree? The number
of insects could be sampled by shaking a branch and catching the insects that
fall off the branch onto a sheet. Multiply the number of insects collected by the
number of branches in the tree.
Chapter 1.4
1. Weather refers to local conditions that change from day to day or even from
hour to hour. For example, it may be snowing in the morning and clear with
sunshine in the afternoon. Climate refers to the average weather pattern of a
region. For example, Canada’s North is very cold, with long harsh winters and
short cool summers.
Solve the following:
a) I am related to the grizzly. My white fur is an adaptation to my snowy
environment. Who am I? In which biome do I live? Polar Bear; tundra
b) We are cone-bearing organisms. We stay green through cold winters and get 35
to 40 cm of precipitation a year. Who are we? In which biome do we live?
Coniferous (evergreen) tree; boreal forest.
c) I am a small bush that lives in unirrigated parts of one of Canada’s driest areas.
Who am I? In which biome do I live? Sagebrush; semi-desert Okanagan
Valley
d) We are leaf-dropping organisms that receive 75-150 cm of precipitation a year.
Who are we? In which biome do we live? Deciduous trees; temperate forest
e) I am a meat-eating animal that lives in the same biome as ground squirrels,
which I sometimes eat for dinner. Who am I? In which biome do I live? A
carnivore that eats squirrels and lives in the boreal and the temperate forest.
2.
Agriculture and forestry are the two major plant-related activities that Canadians
are involved in. For centuries, Canadians have been harvesting crops to use in
Canada and export to other countries. Agriculture is a way of life for many
Canadians. Forestry is the basis for the lumber and pulp and paper industries.
Forestry provides a livelihood for many Canadians, and it is a major factor in the
Canadian economy.
Chapter 1.5
1.
a) hydrosphere = water
b) lithosphere = Earth’s crust
c) atmosphere = air
d) biosphere = layer around Earth in which life can exist
e) extinct = no longer living
f)
habitat = location where an organism lives
Chapter at a Glance
1. Explain the relationships between individuals, biological populations, and
communities.
An individual is one organism. A biological population is a group of organisms,
living together at one time in one place. A community is made up of all of the
populations living in one area.
2.
What is the key difference between a community and an ecosystem? Give
examples of a community and an ecosystem to explain the difference.
The key difference is that a community contains only biotic organisms, while an
ecosystem involves interactions between both the biotic organisms and the abiotic
features. For example, all the living organisms in a forest, make up the forest
community. The forest ecosystem includes the forest’s biological community, as well
as all the abiotic features in the forest such as rocks, water, and soil.
3.
Choose an organism, and explain how it interacts with sunlight, air, water, and
soil.
Some of the key points to this answer should include some of the following points:
An organism warms itself in the heat of the Sun, and it eats the plants that use the
Sunday s energy. Most organisms breathe air and drink water in order for it to
survive.
4.
Give examples of different areas that could be sampled. Explain why sampling
is necessary.
Any area can be sampled. Scientists regularly sample water systems, parks, fields,
jungles, city areas – anywhere organisms live. Sampling is necessary for estimating
the number of organisms that live in a particular environment.
5. Explain the relationship between biomes, climates and weather.
A biome is a large area with characteristic climate, soil, plants, and animals; there are
six major biomes in the world. Climate is the average weather pattern of a region:
for example, the West Coast of Canada has a rainy climate. Weather refers to local
conditions that are constantly changing.
6. What are the names of the six land biomes? What are the characteristics of each
of these biomes?
BIOME
Characteristics
Tundra
Climate: cold winters and short, cool summers
Soil: nutrient poor; permafrost present
Precipitation: less than 25 cm per year
Plants: grasses, mosses, and lichens
Animals; musk oxen, caribou, arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, and polar
bears
Boreal Forest Climate: cold winters and cool summers
Soil: nutrient and mineral poor, with a top layer of decaying pine and
spruce needles
Precipitation: 35 – 40 cm per year
Plants: Coniferous trees
Animals: moose, bears, lynx, caribou, wolves
Temperate
Climate: relatively mild winters and summers
Forest
Soil: rich, consisting of topsoil over clay
Precipitation: 75-150 cm per year
Plants: primarily hardwood deciduous trees, such as oak, beech, and
maple
Animals: wolves, deer, beers, birds, reptiles
Grassland
Climate: cool winters and warm summers
Soil: rich, with very nutritious topsoil
Precipitation: 25 -75 cm per year
Plants: grasses, small shrubs, and trees near sources of water
Animals: prairie dogs, foxes, snakes, and birds
Desert
Climate: hot days and cold nights
Soil: nutrient poor
Precipitation: very dry, less than 25 cm per year
Plants: cacti, which are adapted to withstand the hot, dry conditions
Tropical rain Climate: hot all year round
forest
Soil: nutrient poor, because all the nutrients are close to the surface
Precipitation: 200 – 460 cm per year
Plants: the greatest diversity of plant life in any biome, including palm
trees, vines, ferns, and orchids
Animals: incredible diversity of animal life; estimated to contain at least
half of the species of terrestrial organisms, approximately 2 – 20 million
species.
7. Give four examples that illustrate the importance of plants in Canada’s
economy.
Plants are very important in the Canadian economy. Lumber, wheat, and
barley, contribute to the economy in many parts of the country. Flowers and
trees are raised and sold as ornamental plants, and some crops are developed
to produce plants for medicines.
8. List and define the three parts of the biosphere
The hydrosphere is all the water on Earth. The lithosphere is the solid mineral material
that covers Earth. The atmosphere is the blanket of air surrounding Eath. Together, these
three make up the biosphere.
9. Explain why some species in the biosphere are endangered.
Species are endangered for many different reasons. The most common reason is habitat
destruction, due to deforestation or pollution.
Chapter 1 Vocabulary Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter 1 Vocabulary Review
1.
A biome is a large area with characteristic climate, soil, plants, and animals.
2.
3.
Abiotic means non-living.
A biosphere consists of all the places on Earth where life can exist and interact
with the physical environment.
An individual is a single organism
A species is a group of organisms who can successfully reproduce among
themselves
Sampling is a method of estimation using a representative section of the whole
area using a form of quadrat.
An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and
reproduce in its environment.
Weather is the local conditions that change from day to day.
An ecosystem is the interaction between the abiotic and the biotic features of
one area.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
A population is the group of individuals of the same species, living together in
one place at one time.
An ecologist is a scientist who studies the abiotic-biotic interactions within an
environment.
Biotic means living.
A quadrat is a popular tool used by biologists to sample ecosystems.
A biological community consists of all the populations that live in one area.
A habitat is a particular place within a community where each species lives.
The climate is the average weather pattern of a region.