NOTE/STUDY GUIDE: Unit 1-4, Ecosystem Fundamentals & Biogeochemical Cycles AP Environmental Science I, Mr. Doc Miller, M.Ed.

North Central High School

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NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NOTE & STUDY GUIDE

AP Environmental Science I

Unit 1-4: Ecosystem Fundamentals & Biogeochemical Cycles

REQUIRED READING FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SCINECE: EARTH AS A LIVING PLANET (BOTKIN & KELLER):

CHAPTER 5, ECOSYSTEM: CONCEPTS & FUNDAMENTALS (PG. 80-103) CHAPTER 6, THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES (PG. 104-126)

Additional resources available at

www.mrdocsonlinelab.com

Grade Chart: (For Teacher Use Only) Part Description Grade Out of

1 NOTES 4-1: ECOSYSTEMS AND ENERGY FLOW 5 2 SG 4-1: ECOSYSTEMS AND ENERGY FLOW 5 3 NOTES 4-2: ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION 5 4 SG 4-2: ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION 5 5 PEER NOTES 4-3a: THE ROCK CYCLE 5 6 PEER NOTES 4-3b: THE HYDROLIC/WATER CYCLE 5 7 PEER NOTES 4-3c: THE CARBON CYCLE 5 8 PEER NOTES 4-3d: THE NITROGEN CYCLE 5 9 PEER NOTES 4-3e: THE PHOSPORUS CYCLE 5

10 PEER NOTES 4-3f: THE SULFER CYCLE 5 11 SG 4-3: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 5

(Exemption of 1 assigned section 5-10) TOTAL 50

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NOTES 4-1: ECOSYSTEMS AND ENERGY FLOW

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SG 4-1: ECOSYSTEMS AND ENERGY FLOW _____1. A set of interacting species that live in the same area is called a (n): a) ecological community b) community level effect c) keystone species d) ecosystem e) individual species _____ 2. A species upon which the entire ecosystem depends on is called a (n): a) ecological community b) community level effect c) keystone species d) ecosystem e) individual species _____ 3. The simplest environmental unit that can support life is called a (n): a) ecological community b) community level effect c) keystone species d) ecosystem e) individual species _____ 4. The Environmental Science textbook outlines the relatively simple food chain that exists

in hot springs such as in Yellowstone National Park, it includes the following organisms: (A) herbivorous flies, (B) carnivorous flies, (C) decomposers, (D) photosynthetic bacteria What would be the correct order of these organisms from lowest trophic level to highest

trophic level? a) C, A, B, D b) B, A, D, C c) D, A, B, C d) B, A, C, D e) C, D, A, B _____ 5. Which of the following is an example of three different species on three different trophic

levels, listed from the lowest level to the highest? a) shrubs, trees, giraffes b) humans, cows, grass c) sharks, herbivorous fish, carnivorous fish d) moss, reindeer, wolves e) dirt, corn, humans

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_____ 6. The most basic processes in an ecosystem are: a) photosynthesis and respiration b) transport and storage of food c) trophic chains and storage of food d) flow of energy and cycling of chemical elements e) waste decomposition and cycling of energy _____ 7. Energy, chemical elements, and other compounds are transferred from creature to

creature along: a) symbiotic links b) food chains c) biogeochemical cycles d) trophic levels e) trophic paths Questions 8-11 refer to the text below: In hot springs live photosynthetic bacteria and algae. Some flies, called Ephydrid flies lay

eggs on algae mats. Their larvae feed on the algae and the bacteria. Another fly, the Colichopodid fly feeds on the eggs and larvae of the herbivorous fly. Dragonflies, wasps, spiders, tiger beetles also feed on the Ephydrid fly. The Ephydrid flies also have a parasite, a red mite that feeds of the fly eggs and travels attached to the body of the fly. Another animal, a small wasp lays eggs within the fly larvae. All wastes and dead material are fed on by decomposers, which in hot springs are primarily bacteria.

_____ 8. The algae and photosynthetic bacteria living in hot springs feed on the: a) first trophic level b) second trophic level c) third trophic level d) fourth trophic level e) fifth trophic level _____ 9. Dragonflies, wasps, spiders, tiger beetles that feed on the Ephydrid fly feed on the: a) first trophic level b) second trophic level c) third trophic level d) fourth trophic level e) fifth trophic level _____ 10. The Ephydrid fly is an example of a: a) carnivore b) herbivore c) parasite d) decompose e) chemosynthesizer _____11. The small wasp that lays eggs within the Ephydrid fly larvae feed on the ___________

and is a ____________. a) first trophic level, herbivore b) second trophic level, carnivore c) third trophic level, parasite d) fourth trophic level, decompose e) fifth trophic level, predator

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_____ 12. Which of the following are able to decompose organic matter? I. bacteria II. fungi III. algae a) I b) II c) III d) I and II e) I, II and III _____ 13. “Community-level interactions” refer to: a) the fact that changes in one species in an ecological community affect others, even

species they don’t interact with directly b) the transfer of energy and elements from one community to another c) elimination of an important keystone species from a community d) social, non-competitive interactions within a community e) competitive interactions within an ecosystem _____ 14. The presence of sea otters within a kelp forest community results in: a) an increase in species diversity b) a decrease in species diversity c) no change in species diversity d) ecological succession e) a predator-prey dynamic _____ 15. Sea otters live along the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. The otters feed upon sea

urchins, and urchins feed upon kelp. Reduction in the number of sea otters leads to an explosion in sea urchin populations, declines in kelp, and declines in all other species that feed upon kelp. Given this information, sea otters are an example of a(n):

a) food chain b) dominant species c) omnivore d) keystone species e) an important animal _____ 16. According to the Environmental Science text, the difference between an ecosystem and

an ecological community is: a) plants b) energy c) humans d) the non-living components of the environment e) the two terms are equivalent _____ 17. All of the following are fundamental elements of an ecosystem and must be present for

sustained life except: a) a flow of energy b) at least one species that produces food from inorganic compounds c) at least one species that feeds upon the others in the ecosystem d) at least one species that decomposes the wastes of the others in the ecosystem e) a cycling of chemical nutrients

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_____ 18. Green plants, algae and certain bacteria produce sugar through the process of

photosynthesis. To which trophic level do they belong to? a) first trophic level b) second trophic level c) third trophic level d) fourth trophic level e) first and second trophic level _____ 19. In an ecosystem where wolves feed upon moose, the ratio between the production of

moose and the production of wolves is an example of: a) trophic-level efficiency b) mineral cycling c) succession d) population regulation e) balance of nature _____ 20. Organisms that live at or near deep ocean vents and derive energy from inorganic sulfur

compounds are called: a) autotrophs b) chemoautotrophs c) biotrophs d) heterotrophs e) homotrophs _____ 21. Organisms that make sugar from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are called: a) autotrophs b) chemoautotrophs c) biotrophs d) heterotrophs e) homotrophs _____ 22. Organisms that cannot make their own organic compounds from inorganic ones and

must feed on other living things are called: a) autotrophs b) chemautotrophs c) biotrophs d) heterotrophs e) homotrophs _____ 23. Energy efficiency is generally defined as: a) gross production - net production b) energy input - energy output c) the temperature at which a system reaches steady-state d) the amount of energy per unit biomass e) the amount of useful work obtained from some amount of energy _____ 24. The amount of newly acquired energy stored after some energy has been used is called: a) primary production b) secondary production c) net production d) biological production e) ecological production

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_____ 25. A common measure of energy efficiency is called trophic-level efficiency, which is the

ratio of: a) the material produced by an organism to the material consumed b) production of one trophic level to the production of the next lower trophic level c) production of the lowest trophic level to the production of the highest trophic level d) material produced to the material assimilated e) the movement of net energy from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level 26. The following are species that live in the ocean. For each of the examples below, list its

trophic level from 1 (lowest level) to 5 (highest level). carnivorous fish _____ zooplankton _____ human in a sushi restaurant (they’ll eat anything!) _____ photosynthetic algae _____ fish that feed upon plankton ____ 27. List all the essential needs of a healthy functioning ecosystem.

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NOTES 4-2: ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

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SG 4-2: ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION _____1. The development from early to middle stages of succession results in: a) an increase in species diversity b) a decrease in species diversity c) no change in species diversity d) an decrease in species richness e) none of the above _____ 2. Intensive farming results in: a) an increase in species diversity b) a decrease in species diversity c) no change in species diversity d) an decrease in productivity e) none of the above _____ 3. An ecological community is: a) a set of interacting species that occur in the same place b) a system of interdependent living and nonliving components in a given area over a

given period of time c) a system based on the living environment d) the smallest group that has all characteristics necessary to sustain life e) the total physical and chemical environment of a continent _____ 4. The principle that early successional species may prevent the entrance of later

successional species is called: a) tolerance b) succession c) facilitation d) interference e) reforestation _____ 5. In bogs, sedge plants form floating mats that grow out over the water surface. What role

do these mats play in natural succession? a) they reduce the acidity of the water, allowing a wider range of species to colonize the

bog b) sedges are climax species, the result of increasing eutrophication of the water c) they choke off any trees that might take root and arrest succession d) they are pioneer species that form a substrate from which other plants grow e) the sedges widen bogs and promote their eventual evolution into ponds

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_____ 6. What happens if an ecosystem persists for a very long period without any disturbances? a) all wild fires are suppressed naturally b) it becomes less fertile c) accumulation of high biomass occurs d) the soil ability to store chemicals increases e) the reproductive rate of plants increases _____ 7. Which of the following is an example for ‘facilitation’? a) dune grass anchors the sandy soil and allows other seeds of other plants to

germinate b) a bog closes up because sphagnum moss covers up the water c) early successional species produce seeds that are readily transported by wind and

animals d) dense mats of early successional grasses cover the ground so later successional

species cannot reach the soil and germinate e) none of the above _____ 8. Which of the following help(s) retard erosion? a) the presence of live organic matter b) the presence of dead organic matter c) vegetation d) algae e) all of the above decrease rate of loss to erosion _____ 9. What common elements are found in most examples of ecological succession? a) an initial kind of autotroph b) a second stage of rapidly growing autotrophs c) a third stage with larger autotrophs d) all of the above e) a and b only 10. Give three general characteristics of plants found in early and late successional communities.

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PEER NOTES 4-3a: THE ROCK CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Rock Cyc le

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PEER NOTES 4-3B: THE WATER/HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Water Cyc le

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PEER NOTES 4-3c: THE CARBON CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Carbon Cyc le

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PEER NOTES 4-3d: THE NITROGEN CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The N i t rogen

Cyc le

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PEER NOTES 4-3e: THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Phosphorus

Cyc le

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PEER NOTES 4-3f: THE SULFUR CYCLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF…

HOW IT WORKS!

HUMAN IMPACTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Su l fur Cyc le

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SG 4-3: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES _____1. The reservoirs and pathways that any chemical element follows through the Earth’s

system is called the: a) carbon cycle b) nitrogen cycle c) hydrologic cycle d) geological cycle e) biogeochemical cycle

_____2. Processes that are responsible for the destruction of the lithosphere are part of the: a) carbon cycle b) nitrogen cycle c) phosphorus cycle d) geological cycle e) biogeochemical cycle

_____ 3. Which of the following cycles involves the movement of water from the surface of the Earth through the atmosphere back to the surface of the Earth? a) carbon cycle b) nitrogen cycle c) hydrologic cycle d) geological cycle e) biogeochemical cycle

_____ 4. Within any one of the biogeochemical cycles, “flux” refers to: a) a pool or stock of material b) movement of material from one reservoir to another c) the dynamic equilibrium between different reservoirs d) a state of disequilibrium e) the rate of transfer from one reservoir to another

_____ 5. Based on the classification in the Environmental Science textbook, calcium, potassium, and sodium are examples of: a) nonmetallic minerals b) the “big six” macronutrients c) macronutrients d) micronutrients e) by-products of nitrogen fixation

_____ 6. The following chemical equation describes which process: 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight ---> C6H12O6 + 6O2

a) photosynthesis b) oxidation c) pyrolysis d) respiration e) carbonation

_____ 7. The original source of energy that drives the hydrologic cycle is: a) rain b) thermal energy c) solar energy d) gravity e) photosynthesis

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_____ 8. The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important biogeochemical cycles. However, molecular nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is not a significant element for life because:

a) almost all nitrogen is in the atmosphere and therefore unavailable to life b) organisms use either CO2 or O2 but not nitrogen c) N2 is relatively inert and must be transformed in order to be useful d) where nitrogen is insufficient, organisms can use other, more plentiful nutrients e) nitrogen is an important nutrient, necessary for life

_____ 9. How does erosion affect the global carbon cycle? a) exposed soil reacts with CO2 and removes it from the atmosphere b) loose soil releases methane, a greenhouse gas c) erosion removes mountainous topography, which reduces snowfall worldwide d) erosion releases buried organic matter that oxidizes and produces CO2 e) erosion releases CO trapped in pores in bedrock

_____ 10. Fluxes of nitrogen both into and out of the atmosphere are controlled predominantly by: a) the activity of microscopic bacteria b) evaporation and precipitation c) chemical exchange with the oceans d) transpiration by plants e) geological activity

_____ 11. An element with a gaseous phase under conditions at the Earth’s surface (atmosphere) tends to ____________ much more rapidly than an element without a gas phase. a) recycle b) be depleted c) be polluted d) accumulate in excess e) undergo radioactive decay

_____ 12. The substance with the greatest significance for the global carbonate-silicate cycle is: a) limestone b) carbon dioxide c) quartz minerals d) water e) fossil fuels

_____ 13. The pathway by which carbon is transferred from living biota to the atmosphere is called: a) photosynthesis b) transpiration c) evaporation d) respiration e) transportation

_____ 14. Phosphorus, an important nutrient, enters living plants from: a) groundwater b) surface water c) soil d) air e) solar radiation

_____ 15. Carbon is called the 'backbone' of our living environment because carbon: a) is used in the process of respiration to produce carbohydrates and oxygen b) is produced by organisms c) dioxide prevents the Earth from cooling down d) is a medium for the transfer of material or energy from one reservoir to another e) is the basic building-block of life

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16. List the "big six" macronutrients that are necessary for almost all life. 17. Although the total water on land represents only a small fraction of the water on Earth (about

1%), it is very important. Name at least three reasons why. 18. Name the important reservoirs and pathways of the hydrologic cycle. 19. Phosphorus is an important macronutrient for life. Name three important sources of

phosphorus for soil and plants. 20. List three of the principal reservoirs of carbon significant to the global carbon cycle: 21. Defend or criticize the following statement: The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important of

the biogeochemical cycles because nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is utilized by most forms of life.

22. Two of the most important reservoirs of carbon in the carbon cycle are life (biomass) and the

atmosphere. Name the three important pathways that link these two reservoirs. 23. What is the difference between physical and chemical weathering in the rock cycle?