Chapter 3: Ecosystem Ecology
Reversing the Deforestation of Haiti
Reversing the Deforestation of Haiti
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Create a chart illustrating the causes behind Haiti’s
deforestation and the reasons why they are reversing it now.
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What is an ecosystem and what are its components?
If ecosystem boundaries are not well-defined….how do you
know when you leave one ecosystem and enter another?
How do boundaries created by humans differ from natural
boundaries?
What is photosynthesis and what is its significance?
Why is cellular respiration an important process?
Illustrate how photosynthesis and respiration relate to
energy transfer through the trophic pyramid.
Define, list an example and create an illustration for each of
the following terms:
o Consumers or Heterotrophs
o Herbivores or primary consumers
o Carnivores or secondary consumers
o Tertiary consumers
o Trophic levels
o Food chain
o Food web
o Scavenger
o Detritivore
o Decomposer
What determines the productivity of an ecosystem?
What is the difference between gross primary productivity
(GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP)? Create an
analogy using our own energy balance to help you
remember the difference.
Define biomass.
Compare the terms productivity and standing crop. Illustrate
your comparison by using the examples in the text.
Define ecological efficiency. Why (be specific) is ~90%
energy lost as energy moves from one trophic level to the
next? Use a trophic pyramid to help illustrate your answer.
Write a persuasive essay explaining “Why should you
become a vegetarian?”
Module 6: The Movement of Energy
Explain the concept of ecosystem
boundaries.
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Describe the processes of
photosynthesis and respiration.
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Distinguish among the tropic levels
that exist in food chains and food
webs.
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Quantify ecosystem productivity.
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Explain energy transfer efficiency and 
trophic pyramids.
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Module 7: The Movement of Matter
Describe how water cycles within ecosystems.
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Explain how carbon cycles within ecosystems.
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Describe how nitrogen cycles within ecosystems.
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Explain how phosphorus cycles within ecosystems. 
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Discuss the movement of calcium, magnesium,
potassium and sulfur within ecosystems.
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Draw and Label the Water Cycle
Make a list of important terms in the hydrologic
cycle and define them
Describe at least three ways humans affect the
water cycle.
Draw and Label the Carbon Cycle
Make a list of important terms in the carbon
cycle and define them
Describe at least three ways humans affect the
carbon cycle.
Draw and Label the Nitrogen Cycle
Make a list of important terms in the nitrogen
cycle and define them
Describe at least three ways humans affect the
nitrogen cycle.
Draw and Label the Phosphorus Cycle
Make a list of important terms in the
phosphorus cycle and define them
Describe at least three ways humans affect the
phosphorus cycle.
Outline this section and include important facts
about each macronutrient.
Module 8: Responses to Disturbances
Input
Distinguish between ecosystem resistance and
ecosystem resilience.
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Explain the insights gained from watershed
studies.
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Explain the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.
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Output
What is the difference between resistance and
resilience in an ecosystem?
What are the characteristics of a resilient
ecosystem?
What is restoration ecology? Give an example
to explain.
What is a watershed? Name the two
watersheds in Worcester County.
Rewrite the Hubbard Brook experiment in the
framework of the scientific method.
Why is Hubbard Brook valuable as a study
area?
What does the Hubbard Brook study teach us?
Write a clear and simple explanation of the
intermediate disturbance hypothesis.
Name four different ecosystem disturbances
(include at least one biological).
How does this hypothesis relate to our first lab
looking at human disturbance and ant
biodiversity