Name: ______________________________________
Biology
Quarter Test 1 Review
Scientific Method
What is a control group?
A control group is a group that you do not change or do anything to during an
experiment.
Why are control groups important?
Control groups are important because they serve as a comparison for experimental
groups.
Explain the difference between an independent variable and dependent variable.
Independent variables are variables that change - this is what you are testing.
Dependent variables are variables that respond to the independent variable - this is
what you are measuring.
Ecology
What does abiotic mean? Give 2 examples of abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Abiotic means nonliving. Air currents, water, temperature and rocks are examples
of abiotic factors.
What does biotic mean? Give 2 examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem.
Biotic means living. Trees, grass and any organism are examples of biotic factors.
List and describe the levels of ecological organization.
Organism - one individual living thing
Population - a group of organisms, all the same species, living in the same place at
the same time; populations also have the ability to interbreed
Community - a group of interacting populations living in the same place at the
same time
Ecosystem - a group of interacting communities living in the same place at the
same time PLUS all of the abiotic factors in that area
Biosphere - The portion of the Earth that supports living things
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is how an organism maintains a suitable internal environment. When
you are running and get hot, you sweat. Sweating is how your body cools itself; this is
an example of homeostasis.
Name: ______________________________________
What is an organism’s habitat?
A habitat is the place where an organism lives out its life.
What is an organism’s niche?
A niche is the role an organism plays in its environment. Two or more organisms can
occupy the same habitat if they have different niches.
Symbiosis refers to the close ecological relationships of organisms. Complete the table below to
describe each relationship.
Symbiotic Relationship
Description
Example
Mutualism
both organisms benefit
Parasitism
one organism benefits while
the other organism is harmed
one organism benefits while
the other organism is neither
harmed nor helped
Commensalism
Bee and flower - bee gets food
(nectar) from flower and the
flower gets help with
pollination
Tick and dog
Clown fish “Nemo” and
anemone - the clown fish live
among the stinging tentacles of
anemones and are benefited by
their protection
Describe a predator-prey relationship.
A predator-prey relationship is best described as HUNT AND KILL. These
relationships are important for keeping population sizes in check.
What is the ultimate source of energy?
The sun.
Where is the most energy located in a food chain?
The producer or autotroph - the lowest level of a food chain/web or energy
pyramid.
Where is the least energy located in a food chain?
The highest order consumer - the highest level of a food chain/web or energy
pyramid.
Name: ______________________________________
Only 10% of energy is passed on to the next level in a food chain. If the first organism in a food
chain has 1,000 kcal of energy, how much energy will be passed on to the second organism in
the food chain? Third? Fourth?
A producer is also known as an autotroph. What is a producer?
A producer is an organism (usually a plant) that uses energy from the sun to
produce its own food.
Consumers can be herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. What is a herbivore? What is a
carnivore? What is an omnivore?
A herbivore is an organism that eats only producers/autotrophs (PLANT EATER).
A carnivore is an organism that eats only other organisms (MEAT EATERS).
An omnivore is an organism that eats producers/autotrophs and other organisms (EATS
BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS).
In the carbon cycle, how is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through respiration, burning fossil fuels,
weathering rock and melting ice.
How is carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
What ecological issue is increased amounts of carbon dioxide most often associated?
Name: ______________________________________
Increased amounts of carbon dioxide are most associated with global warming.
What does a J-curve graph look like? What type of growth does a J-curve represent?
A J-curve graph represents exponential growth. (See graph (a) below.)
What does a S-curve graph look like? What type of growth does a S-curve represent?
A S-curve graph represents logistic growth. (See graph (b) below.)
What is carrying capacity? When you look at a graph, how can you tell that a population has
reached its carrying capacity?
Carrying capacity is the number of organisms an environment can support. When
a population levels off (or flattens out) it has reached carrying capacity. The dotted
line on the S-curve graph represents carrying capacity.
How do non-native or invasive species affect an ecosystem?
Non-native species (invasive species) do not have any predators when they are
introduced to a new habitat. An invasive species will deplete populations of its
prey.
What conditions must be met for the population growth rate to be zero?
new
Name: ______________________________________
The growth rate of a population will be zero when the birth rate is equal to the
death
rate.
What conditions must be met for the population growth rate to increase?
The growth rate of a population will increase when the birth rate is higher than the
death rate.
What conditions must be met for the population growth rate to decrease?
The growth rate of a population will decrease when the death rate is higher than the
birth rate.
Chemistry
What is an organic molecule?
An organic molecule is a molecule containing carbon.
Name the four types of macromolecules.
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids
What are the building blocks of carbohydrates?
Glucose or fructose
What is the function of carbohydrates?
Quick energy
Give an example of a carbohydrate.
Table sugar
What are the building blocks of proteins?
Amino acids
What is the function of proteins?
Repair tissues
Give an example of a protein.
Name: ______________________________________
Chicken
What type of bond connects amino acids?
Peptide bond
What are the building blocks of lipids?
Triglycerides
What is the function of lipids?
Long term energy storage, insullation
Give an example of a lipid?
Fats, oils, waxes
What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides
What is the function of nucleic acids?
Store genetic information
Give an example of a nucleic acid.
DNA, RNA
What reagent is used to test for simple sugars like glucose and fructose?
Benedict’s solution
What reagent is used to test for starch?
Iodine solution
What reagent is used to test for protein?
Biuret’s solution
How can you test for the presence of lipids?
Name: ______________________________________
Brown paper bag test