Study Guide for Ecology Test: Answer all questions, use a separate sheet of paper
Study Guide is due: Tueday, April 22nd
Test will be on: Wednesday, April 23rd
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
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Define Abiotic Factors and list 5 Abiotic Factors
Define Biotic Factors and list 5 Biotic Factors
What would happen to the biotic factors if all the abiotic factors were destroyed?
Why are abiotic factors important in an ecosystem?
What would happen to all the abiotic factors if all the biotic factors were destroyed?
What provides energy for ecosystems? Is it biotic or abiotic?
Describe the positives and negatives of wind. (Include how plants and animals utilize wind.)
Water Cycle
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How does water change from a liquid to a gas? How does water change from a gas back to a liquid?
What is the origin of energy that drives the water cycle (what gives energy to make the cycle happen)?
What would happen to the water cycle if there was no sun?
How do animals play a part in the water cycle?
How has the total amount of water on Earth changed since the beginning of time?
Compare and contrast transpiration and respiration.
Carbon Cycle
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How do people and animals help plants in the Carbon Cycle (Think about respiration; what do animals release)?
How do plants help animals in the Carbon Cycle (Think about photosynthesis; what do plants make that we need)?
Explain the carbon cycle. What gas do plants take in and release, and what gas do animals take in and release?
What does an increase in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) cause?
What is deforestation and how does deforestation cause global warming?
How can we decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen Cycle
1. Summarize the nitrogen cycle
Photosynthesis
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Explain the process of photosynthesis?
What is chlorophyll? What color is it? Why is it important?
What is the name for organisms that make their own food?
Why is photosynthesis important for food webs?
Can photosynthesis occur without sunlight? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER!
What are the stomata and guard cells role in the process of photosynthesis?
 Explain this diagram.
Food Chains Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids
Swamp Food Web
Producers – Plants that create energy (sugar) from the sun
Primary Consumer – First eater
Secondary Consumer – Second eater
Tertiary Consumer – Third eater
Use the Food Web to answer these questions:
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Which organisms are producers?
Why are producers important in a food web?
What do the arrows in a food web show?
Identify one predator in this food web.
Identify one prey in this food web.
Identify one carnivore in this food web.
Identify one herbivore in this food web.
Identify one omnivore in this food web.
Which organisms are primary consumers?
Which organisms are secondary consumers?
Which organisms are tertiary consumers?
What trophic level is the mountain lion?
How many kinds of organisms do hawks eat?
How many organisms eat the rabbit?
Why is a tree a producer?
How does the energy in the grass get into the frog?
Energy Pyramids
1. Draw two food chains from the food webs. Each must have 4
organisms.
2. Draw two energy pyramids based on the food chains you drew.
Label each level.
3. Which part of the food web has the most energy? Why?
4. What happens to the amount of energy as you go up the food
web?
5. How much energy is lost at each trophic level? Why?
6. What would happen to the population of gray wolves if all the
plants were destroyed by humans?
7. If the plants contain 5,000 calories of energy, what is the
GREATEST amount of energy the gray wolf can receive?
8. If Plants contain 9,000 calories of energy, what is the LEAST amount of energy the coyote can receive?
9. After the Elk ate the Grass, it received 600 calories of energy. How much energy did the plants start with?
10. Name the different descriptors for the coyote.
Decomposers
1. What are decomposers? What are the two types of decomposers?
2. Give two reasons why decomposers are important. How do decomposers help the food chain?
3. What are the differences between decomposers and scavengers?
4. What is the difference between a producer and a decomposer?
5. How do decomposers obtain the energy needed to survive?
6. What would happen within a few months if all decomposers on Earth disappeared overnight?
Symbiotic relationships and interactions
A. Draw and Complete
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Definition
Example 1
Example 2
B.
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Identify each symbiotic relationship and explain why. (WRITE IN FULL SENTENCES!)
Morel Mushrooms absorb sugars and starches made by an Elm Tree. The Elm Tree is unharmed.
Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. The hatched Cowbird pushes the host eggs out of the nest and eat
all the food the host parents bring.
Wasps sting caterpillars and inject their eggs inside of them. The eggs hatch and devour the insides of the
caterpillar and emerge when they become adults.
Green Algae grow on a Tree Sloth. The Green Algae protects and camouflages the Tree Sloth.
Plant Adaptations
1. Explain different ways plants adapt to their environment. (types of seed dispersals…response to temp…)
2. Draw and complete:
Phototropism
Define
Picture / Sketch
Gravitropism
Thigmotropism