Unit 1 Test Vocabs & Concepts – The Living World
Important Vocabulary
Bioaccumulation
Biomagnification
Deforestation
Ecosystem services
Biotic vs. Abiotic
Autotroph/Producer
Heterotroph
Trophic levels
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Detritivores
Scavengers
Decomposers
Tertiary consumer
1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics
10% Rule
Biomass
Ecological efficiency
Net Primary Productivity
Gross Primary Productivity
Photosynthesis/Cellular respiration
Food chain/Food web
Acid/base
Adhesion/Cohesion
Aerobic respiration
Ammonia
Ammonification
Atom
Biogeochemical cycle
Capillary action
Carbon Cycle
Compound v Molecule
Conservation of Mass
Denitrification
Element
Half-life
Hydrologic cycle
Inorganic compound
Ion
Ionic v Covalent bond
Isotope
Macromolecules/biomolecules
Matter
Nitrates/nitrites
Nitrification
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen fixation
Nutrient cycle
Organic compound
Phosphate
Phosphorus cycle
Polar bond
Radioactive decay
Sulfur Cycle
Surface tension
Hydrologic Cycle
Limiting Factor
Clumped/Random/Uniform
Dispersion
Logistic Growth
Exponential Growth
Density-dependent factors
Boom-and-bust-cycle
Carrying Capacity
Symbiosis
Feedback Loops
Important Concepts
1. Briefly describe how the sun and nutrient cycles sustain life on Earth.
2. Define abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem.
3. Distinguish between an open system and a closed system. Compare the flow of matter and the flow of energy through the biosphere. Describe the “pyramid of energy flow”. Draw a sample diagram.
4. What is the 10% rule?
5. Describe the difference between Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), and net primary productivity (NPP).
6. What is NPP limited by?
7. What effect have humans had on the total potential NPP for the planet?
8. Explain why there are not many tigers in the world.
9. Compare and contrast photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
10. What’s the difference between a food chain/food web?
11. Be able to label the trophic levels in a food chain/food web.
12. What is the difference between low and high quality matter? Give examples.
13. Energy doesn't recycle, but does matter?
14. Why is water called the universal solvent? What special properties does water have?
15. What are the major steps to the carbon cycle, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and water cycles?
16. Which nutrients cycle slowly and which are quick?
17. What are the largest storage reservoirs for C, N, P and S? Which does not have an aerial form?
18. What specifically is upsetting the natural balance of the C, N, P and S cycles? (humans, of course, but what are we doing specifically?)
19. What are the main parts of the atom? How you determine the number of each subatomic particle in an atom?
20. What are the different types of matter and states of matter?
21. Growth Trends: Linear growth vs. exponential growth vs. logistic growth
22. What is the scientific method and why do we use it?
23. What’s the difference between accuracy and precision?
24. What are the differences between k selected and r selected species?
25. What is the difference between density dependent and density independent factors?
26. What’s the ecological tipping point? How does it relate ecological footprint, biocapacity & sustainability?
27. What are the five types of symbiotic interactions among species? Identify if the species involved are benefited, harmed or unaffected.
28. Discuss the methods for sampling (counting) populations – direct/ indirect – random vs. mark-and-recapture.
** For the new material after the quiz – focus the majority of your energy on understanding and knowing the cycles and human influence on the cycles – but be sure to briefly review the chemistry/matter concepts so you’re familiar with the terms/ideas.