Unit 5: Ecology & Climate
Assigned: _______________________
Name:_______________________________________ Core 1 2 3 4
DUE on the scheduled Unit Test date. TBD
Read Chapters 17 and 18 pages 482 – 539. Total reading pgs. = _____ Notes pgs. = ____
Chapter 17 – LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
I. Section 17.1 The Living and Nonliving Environment
A. Biosphere = ______________________________________________________________________________________
B. Ecology = _________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Abiotic Factor =
D. Biotic Factors =
E. 4 examples of abiotic factors
F. 4 examples of biotic factors
G. What does “bio” mean? __________________
What the prefix “a” mean? __________________
H. Levels of Biological Organization = a way of looking @/ organizing the a_______________ and
b_____________________ environment.
I.
Organism =
J.
Population =
Draw pictures to illustrate the levels:
K. Community =
L. Ecosystem =
M. Biosphere =
Section 17.1 Assessment (page 486)
1. Difference between an abiotic and biotic factor: (Use “T” tables to compare & contrast.)
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
2. Difference between:
populations
communities
communities
ecosystems
3. Could oxygen in the atmosphere be considered an abiotic factor? ______________________
Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________________
What about carbon dioxide? _______________________________________________________________________
4. Your population: _________________________________________________________________________________
Your community: ________________________________________________________________________________
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II. Section 17.2 Interactions Among Living Organisms
A. Characteristics of Populations include: ________________________________________________________
B. Population density = ___________________________________________________________________________
C. Limiting factors = ________________________________________________________________________________
D. Carrying capacity = ______________________________________________________________________________
E. Biotic potential = ________________________________________________________________________________
F. Draw Figure 17-9 Carrying Capacity Graph (page 490)
G. Why don’t most populations achieve their biotic potential? _________________________________
H. Discuss interactions in communities. Summarize 5 key points from this “Interactions in Communities”
paragraph on (page 490):
 ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________
I.
symbiosis =
example
drawing:
J.
mutualism =
example
drawing
K. commensalism =
example
drawing
L. parasitism =
example
drawing
USING MATH EXERCISE – Calculating Population Growth (Page 491)
* Read directions and study the Example Problem steps in the USING MATH BOX on page 491. Expect to Do the
Practice Problem for the endangered fish.
Given: initial population =
Year 1 # of ___________________________ endangered fish
Population increase rate = ____________ % = 0.02 (in decimal form)
Show Work:
1) # of fish in Year 2: _______________ 2) # of fish in Year 3:___________________
3) Data Table:
Year
# of endangered fish
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
2
4)
Data Analysis: Create a line graph.
5) What does the data show? ____________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
M. habitat = ___________________________________________________ example ____________________________
N. niche = _____________________________________________________ example ____________________________
Section 17.2 Assessment (page 493)
A.
Describe how limiting factors can affect the organisms in a population.
B. Difference between a habitat and a niche:
Habitat
Niche
C. A parasite can obtain food only from its host. Most parasites weaken, but do not kill their hosts. Why?
USING MATH EXERCISE (page 493) – In a 12 m2 area of weeds, 46 dandelion plants, 212 grass plants, and 14
bindweed plants are growing. What is the population density per square meter of each species?
Formulas:
Density = mass/ volume
Population Density = # of individuals/ amount of space
Show work:
5. Dandelion plants:
_________ dandelions/ m2
6. Grass plants:
________ grass plants/ m2
7. Bindweed plants:
________ bindweeds m2
IV. Section 17.3 Matter and Energy
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Energy moves through an ecosystem in the form of f______________________________.
Producer = _______________________________________________________________________________________
Consumer = ______________________________________________________________________________________
Herbivore = ______________________________________________________________________________________
Carnivore = ______________________________________________________________________________________
Decomposer = ___________________________________________________________________________________
Chemosynthesis = _______________________________________________________________________________
Difference between a food chain and food web:
Food chain
I. Draw a food chain including: 1 producer,
2 consumers, 1 decomposer
Food web
J. Figure # and page # of a food
web in the textbook.
Figure # _______________ Page _______
K. Ecological pyramid = ____________________________________________________________________________
L. Energy pyramid = _______________________________________________________________________________
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M. Figure 17-5 (page 499) Energy Pyramid Diagram:
N. What % of
one level
O. What
of
energy is available to transfer from
to the next? ___________ %
is THE renewable source
energy drives all food
chains and webs? the
S_________
P. Why do the arrows in food webs and food chains go from producers “upwards?”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIG KEY POINT!! The arrows go in the direction that e___________________ and matter transfers through an
ecosystem.
Fill in the arrows:
Sunproducers
1st level consumer
2nd level consumer
decomposers
Q. Which 2 scientific laws govern the transfer of energy and matter on Earth?
1. The Law of C___________________________________ of M_________________
2. The Law of C___________________________________ of E_________________
R. Why aren’t there more levels in an energy pyramid? ________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
S. Phytoplankton = _________________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM SOLVING (page 499) - Study the food web. Draw a quick diagram of the food web. Focus on each
arrow to really understand which way ENERGY is flowing .
T. How would an increase in the whale population affect the food web? _____________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
U. Which organisms compete for the same food? _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
V. Populations of seals, penguins, and krill eating fish increased in size as populations of baleen whales declined.
Why? _________________________________________________________________
W. What might happen if the number of baleen whales increases, BUT the amount of krill does not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
V List 3 key matter cycles: 1 _____________________ 2 ______________________ 3 ____________________
W. Water Cycle Review – Draw Figure 17-16 (page 500) . Label the 6 processes.
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Water Cycle
X. Carbon Cycle - Draw Figure 17–17 (page 501) Summarize the captions.
Carbon Cycle
Y. Why is the Carbon Cycle important? ____________________________________________________________
Z. Nitrogen Cycle - Draw Figure 17-18 (page 502) Summarize captions.
Nitrogen Cycle
Section 17.3 Assessment (page 502)
2. How does cycling of matter affect a food chain?
answer.
Use ALL these words in your answer. Circle them in your
food chain
recycling
limiting factors
carrying capacity
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________3. Use your knowledge of food chains and the energy pyramid to explain why fewer lions than
gazelles living on the African plains. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER REVEW - (pages 504-505)
1) Section 17-1 Question: How does the relationship between an organism, a population and a community affect
an ecosystem?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2) Section 17-2 Question: How could 2 similar species of birds live in the same area and nest in the same tree
without occupying the same niche? Give an example.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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3) Section 17-3 Question: If the rabbits, birds, mice, beetles and deer were removed from the food web, which
organisms would be affected and how? Hint: Cross out the animals and see what is left. How would the animals
left in the ecosystem be affected?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Chapter 18 – ECOSYSTEMS - Remember to PREVIEW before you read.
Section 18.1 – How Ecosystems Change
A. Ecological succession = _________________________________________________________________________
B. Difference between:
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
C. Stages in Primary Succession Figure 18-1 (pages 510-511) Draw and describe each stage in the table below:
Drawings:
A
B
C
D
Description:
Description:
Description:
Description:
D. Compare and contrast pioneer and climax communities:
Pioneer Community
Definitions
Climax Community
How are they alike?
How are they different?
Section 18.1 Assessment – (page 513)
4. What kind of succession will take place on an abandoned, unpaved country road?
___________________________________________________ Why? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Section 18.2 – Land Environments
List and describe the 5 factors that determine climate:
6 Factors That Determine Climate
Summarize Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
6
F. biome = ___________________________________________________________________________________________
G. Contrast: (difference between)
Tundra Biome
Taiga Biome
H. Contrast: (difference between)
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Rainforest
I. Layers of Vegetation Figure 18-12 (page 522)
Canopy =________________________________________________
Drawing:
Understory = __________________________________________
Forest floor = __________________________________________
J. Contrast:
Grassland
Desert
Section 18.2 Assessment – (page 525)
1. Name 2 biomes that receive less than 25 cm of precipitation each year:
1. ____________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. Compare and contrast the canopies of temperate deciduous forests and tropical rain forests.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Rainforest Canopies
Canopies
How are they alike?
How are they different?
Section 18.3 Water Environments
Contrast the most important factors in determining which species can survive in a land environment and the
limiting factors in water environments:
A. 2 most important factors in LAND
environments

1.___________________________________________

2. __________________________________________
B. 4 limiting factors in water environments




salinity = ___________________________________
dissolved o_________________________________
t_____________________________________________
s_____________________________________________
Contrast freshwater and saltwater biomes:
Characteristics
% of water on earth
C. Freshwater Biomes
D. Saltwater Biomes
salinity (high or low)
examples
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C. Contrast types of freshwater biomes:
Rivers and Streams
Lakes and Ponds
D. Contrast lakes and ponds.
Lakes
Ponds
E. Contrast estuaries, seashores, and open ocean
Estuaries
Seashores
Open Ocean
F. How are estuaries, seashores and open ocean all alike? _____________________________________
G. What causes the tides? __________________________________________________________________________
H. Discuss adaptations of organisms in intertidal habitats: Figure 18.19 (page 531)
Habitat
Sandy seashore
Rocky seashore
Adaptations
Section 18.3 Assessment Questions – (page 531)
2. What biotic or abiotic factor limits life on the floor of a tropical rain forest and the bottom of the deep ocean?
______________________ Why? ________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do few plants grow in the waters of a swift-flowing mountain stream? ______________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER REVEW - (pages 504-505) Quickly scan your Extra Credit Book Notes to this point before you read the
Chapter Review.
1. Section 18.1 Question - How can you explain that lawns usually do not go through succession?
2. Section 18.2 Question – How does climate influence the type of biome?
3. Section 18.3 Question – Describe where estuaries form. How are they important?
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