Chapter 2-3 Interdependent Ecosystems
*Due Tue 8/18/15
Key terms: biotic factor, abiotic factor, organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, biosphere, climate, temperate/tropical/polar zone (p. 65),
niche, symbiosis, trophic level, biomass, biogeochemical cycle, nitrogen fixation
Reading pages: pp. 32-73
Essential Questions:
1. How does each level of ecological organization compare with the others?
2. How is a habitat different from a niche? What is an example of a habitat and an
individual’s niche in that habitat?
3. How are the 3 major climate zones characterized?
4. How can abiotic factors influence ecology?
5. Compare/contrast the 9 major biome characteristics.
6. How are temperate grasslands and tropical savannas similar and different?
7. How do tropical seasonal forests and temperate forests compare and contrast?
8. Predict what might happen to the tropical rain forests if a dramatic climate change
resulted in colder temperatures and less precipitation.
9. What part do symbiotic relationships play in food chains and biogeochemical cycling?
10. Describe the nitrogen (N) cycle in terms of N inputs and outputs (i.e. Where is N found
and in which form? How is N used by organisms? How do organisms transform N?)
Review:
 Figures 2.6 (p. 37), 3.7 (p. 67)
Useful Links:
 Animated Art Visualizing Levels of Organization (452.0K)
 Video What is Climate? http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=56715
 Game Bill Nye’s ClimateLab Game Zone http://billsclimatelab.org/
 Game Climate Change Challenge http://beta.lpb.org/index.php/stem
 Game Climate Bingo http://climatekids.nasa.gov/bingo/
 Game Build an Online Habitat http://www.switcheroozoo.com/games/habitatgame.htm
 Video Three Extreme Climate Fixes
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=54648
 NSTA Interactive Climate Zones
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/media/climate_zon
es.swf
 BrainPop Food Chain Game https://www.brainpop.com/games/foodchaingame/ (login
bpchs; pop2013)

Carbon Cycle Game http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html
*This reading guide is available on the class web page.
Chapter 2-3 Interdependent Ecosystems
*Due Tue 8/18/15
Key terms: biotic factor, abiotic factor, organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, biosphere, climate, temperate/tropical/polar zone (p. 65),
niche, symbiosis, trophic level, biomass, biogeochemical cycle, nitrogen fixation
Reading pages: pp. 32-73
Essential Questions:
1. How does each level of ecological organization compare with the others?
2. How is a habitat different from a niche? What is an example of a habitat and an
individual’s niche in that habitat?
3. How are the 3 major climate zones characterized?
4. How can abiotic factors influence ecology?
5. Compare/contrast the 9 major biome characteristics.
6. How are temperate grasslands and tropical savannas similar and different?
7. How do tropical seasonal forests and temperate forests compare and contrast?
8. Predict what might happen to the tropical rain forests if a dramatic climate change
resulted in colder temperatures and less precipitation.
9. What part do symbiotic relationships play in food chains and biogeochemical cycling?
10. Describe the nitrogen (N) cycle in terms of N inputs and outputs (i.e. Where is N found
and in which form? How is N used by organisms? How do organisms transform N?)
Review:
 Figures 2.6 (p. 37), 3.7 (p. 67)
Useful Links:
 Animated Art Visualizing Levels of Organization (452.0K)
 Video What is Climate? http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=56715
 Game Bill Nye’s ClimateLab Game Zone http://billsclimatelab.org/
 Game Climate Change Challenge http://beta.lpb.org/index.php/stem
 Game Climate Bingo http://climatekids.nasa.gov/bingo/
 Game Build an Online Habitat http://www.switcheroozoo.com/games/habitatgame.htm
 Video Three Extreme Climate Fixes
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=54648
 NSTA Interactive Climate Zones
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/media/climate_zon
es.swf
 BrainPop Food Chain Game https://www.brainpop.com/games/foodchaingame/ (login
bpchs; pop2013)
 Carbon Cycle Game http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html
*This reading guide is available on the class web page.