Ecosystems and Biomes
Energy Flow in EcosystemsKey Ideas: The energy role of an organism is that of a producer,
consumer, or decomposer. Producers are the source of all the food in an ecosystem. Consumers include herbivores, carnivores, omnivores,
and scavengers. Decomposers return nutrients to the environment where
they can be used again. A food web shows feeding relationships. At each level in an energy pyramid, there is less available
energy than at the level below.Additional Key Terms: food chain
Ecosystems and Biomes
Food Chains and Food WebsThe movement of energy though an ecosystem can be shown in diagrams called food chains and food webs.
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Ecosystems and Biomes
Building VocabularyA definition states the meaning of a word or phrase by telling about its most important feature or function. After you read the section, reread the paragraphs that contain definitions of Key Terms. Use all the information you have learned to write a definition of each Key Term in your own words.
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Key Terms: Examples:
food chainconsumerherbivoreomnivorecarnivorescavenger
In a food chain, a consumer could be an herbivore, an omnivore, or a carnivore, including a scavenger.
decomposer Decomposers are nature’s recyclers.
Key Terms: Examples:
energy pyramidfood webproducers
An energy pyramid shows how much energy moves from one level to another in a food web, beginning with the producers.
Ecosystems and Biomes
End of Section:Energy Flow in
Ecosystems
Ecosystems and Biomes
Cycles of MatterKey Ideas: Matter cycles through an ecosystem. Energy must be
supplied constantly. The processes of evaporation, condensation, and
precipitation form the water cycle.Additional Key Terms:
Ecosystems and Biomes
The Water Cycle
- Cycles of Matter
The processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation make up the water cycle.
Ecosystems and Biomes
The Carbon and Oxygen CyclesIn ecosystems, the processes by which carbon and oxygen are recycled are linked. Producers, consumers, and decomposers play roles in recycling carbon and oxygen.
- Cycles of Matter
Ecosystems and Biomes
The Nitrogen Cycle
- Cycles of Matter
In the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen moves from the air to the soil, into living things, and back into the air.
Ecosystems and Biomes
SequencingSequence is the order in which a series of events occurs. As you read, make a cycle diagram that shows the water cycle. Write each event of the water cycle in a separate oval.
The Water Cycle
Water evaporates.
Clouds form.
Precipitation falls.
Precipitation runs off or becomes
groundwater.
- Cycles of Matter
Ecosystems and Biomes
End of Section:Cycles of Matter
Ecosystems and Biomes
BiogeographyKey Ideas: Means of dispersal or organisms include continental drift,
wind, water, and living organism. Three factors that limit dispersal are physical barriers,
competition, and climate.Additional Key Terms: biogeography, native species, exotic species, invasive species
Ecosystems and Biomes
Continental DriftOne factor that has affected how species are distributed is the motion of Earth’s continents.
- Biogeography
Ecosystems and Biomes
Relating Cause and EffectAs you read, identify Three Causes of Dispersal. Write the information in a graphic organizer like the one below.
Dispersal of species
Wind
Water
Living things, including humans
- Biogeography
Causes
Effect
Ecosystems and Biomes
Relating Cause and EffectAs you read, identify Three Limits to Dispersal. Write the information in a graphic organizer like the one below.
Limited dispersal of species
Physical Barriers
Competition
Climate
- Biogeography
Limits
Effect
Ecosystems and Biomes
Limits to Dispersal
- Biogeography
The typical weather pattern in an area over a long period of time is the area’s climate.
Ecosystems and Biomes
End of Section:Biogeography
Populations and Communities
SuccessionKey Ideas: Primary succession occurs where no previous ecosystem
exists. Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance.Additional Key Terms: succession, pioneer species
Populations and Communities
Primary succession is the
series of changes that occur in
an area where no soil or organisms exist.
Changes inCommunities
Primary Succession
Populations and Communities
Secondary SuccessionSecondary succession is the series of changes that occur in an area where the ecosystem has been disturbed, but where soil and organisms still exist.
Changes inCommunities
Populations and Communities
Factors in Succession
PrimarySuccession
Secondary Succession
As you read, compare and contrast carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in a table like the one below.
Possible causeVolcanic eruption Fire
Type of areaNo soil or organisms exist.
Soil and organisms exist.
Existing ecosystem?No Yes
Changes inCommunities
Comparing and Contrasting
Living Resources
Environmental IssuesKey Ideas: Three types of environmental issues are resource use,
population growth, and pollution. Making environmental decisions requires balancing
different viewpoints and weighing the costs and benefits of proposals.
Additional Key Terms: renewable resources, nonrenewable resources, development viewpoint, preservation viewpoint, conservation viewpoint
Living Resources
Main Idea
Detail Detail Detail
Identifying Main IdeasAs you read the section “Types of Environmental Issues,” write the main idea in a graphic organizer like the one below. Then write three supporting details that give examples of the main idea.
Three types of environmental issues are…
Resource use Population growth Pollution
- Environmental Issues
Living Resources
End of Section:Environmental
Issues
Living Resources
BiodiversityKey Ideas: Factors that affect biodiversity include area, climate, and
diversity of niches. Human activities that threaten biodiversity include habitat
destruction, poaching, pollution, and introduction of exotic species.
Three techniques for protecting biodiversity are regulating capture and trade, captive breeding, and habitat preservation.
Additional Key Terms: keystone species, extinction, endangered species, threatened species
Living Resources
Diversity of SpeciesThe number of different species in an area is called its biodiversity.
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
Factors Affecting BiodiversityFactors that affect biodiversity in an ecosystem include area, climate, and diversity of niches.
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
California Peregrine Falcon Recovery
The peregrine falcon, the world’s fastest bird of prey, was nearly extinct in the United States in 1970. The pesticide DDT was weakening peregrine eggshells, so eggs rarely hatched. In 1972, the United States banned DDT. Use the graph to answer questions about the peregrine population in California.
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
California Peregrine Falcon Recovery
Time interval in years is on the x-axis. Number of breeding pairs of peregrine falcons is on the y-axis.
Reading Graphs:
What variable is plotted on the x-axis? What variable is plotted on the y-axis?
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
California Peregrine Falcon Recovery
The population grew steadily, except for a brief drop around 1980, until 1994, when the number of breeding pairs remained the same for the four following years.
Interpreting Data:
How did California’s peregrine population change from 1976 to 1998?
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
California Peregrine Falcon Recovery
There were only a few breeding pairs at first, and they could produce only a few young. These, in turn, had to grow up before they had a chance to breed. As more pairs grew to breeding age, more and more young could be produced.
Inferring:
Why do you think the peregrine population grew fairly slowly at first?
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
California Peregrine Falcon Recovery
The graph probably would have sloped downward from left to right, possibly reaching zero breeding pairs.
Predicting:
What might this graph have looked like if DDT had not been banned?
- Biodiversity
Living Resources
Building VocabularyAfter you read this section, reread the paragraphs that contain definitions of Key Terms. Use all the information you have learned to write a meaningful sentence using each Key Term.
- Biodiversity
Key Terms: Examples:
biodiversity The biodiversity of ecosystems can have great economic value.
keystone species A keystone species is a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.
gene Genes are the structures in an organism’s cells that carry its hereditary information.
extinction The disappearance of all members of a species from Earth is called extinction.
endangered species Species in danger of becoming extinct in the near future are called endangered species.
Key Terms: Examples:
threatened species
habitat destruction
habitat fragmentation
poaching
captive breeding
Species that could become endangered in the near future are called threatened species.
The major cause of extinction is habitat destruction.
Breaking larger habitats into smaller, isolated pieces, or fragments, is called habitat fragmentation.
The illegal killing or removal of wildlife species from their habitats is called poaching.
Captive breeding is the mating of animals in zoos or wildlife preserves.
Living Resources
Biodiversity Concept Maphttp://
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/ebook/products/0-13-036740-0/shockwaveinteractivities/inl1sxgobiodiver/simbase.htm
Living Resources
End of Section:Biodiversity
Living Resources
Graphic Organizer
Ecological value
Biodiversity
is valued for
is threatened by
can be protected by
Economic value
Habitat destruction Pollution
Laws
Captive breeding
Habitat preservation
Poaching Poaching
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