1.

1 Ecosystems
Ecosystem Basics ● Individual = _____________________________
● Pop. = ___________ of individuals of same
____________________ (elk herd)
● Community = _____________________________
in an area
● Ecosystem = ______________________________
(plants, animals, rocks, soil, water, air)
Biome = large area with similar __________________
conditions that determine _________________________
there
Ex: (tropical rainforest)

Organism Interactions ● _______________________: organisms fighting

over a resource like food or shelter; limits pop. size
● _______________________: one organism using
another for energy source (hunters, parasites, even
herbivores)
● _______________________: relationship that
benefits both organisms (coral reef)
● _______________________: relationship that
benefits one organism & doesn’t impact the other
(birds nest in trees)
Predation (+/-) ● _____________________: (plant eaters) eat plants
for energy (giraffe & tree)
● _____________________: (carnivores) kill and eat
prey for energy (leopard & giraffe)
● _____________________: use a host organism for
energy, often without killing the host & often living
inside host
○ Ex: mosquitoes, tapeworms, sea lamprey
● _____________________: lay eggs inside a host
organism; eggs hatch & larvae eat host for energy
○ Ex: parasitic wasps, bot fly

Symbiosis sym =
together | bio = living |
osis = condition

Any ________________________________________
between two organisms of ______________________
○ Mutualism (+/+), commensalism (+/0), and
parasitism (+/-) are all symbiotic
relationships
● ____________________: Organisms of diff.
species living close together in a way that benefits
 both
○ ______________ (animals) provide reef
structure & CO2 for algae; algae provide
sugars for coral to use as energy
○ ______________ = composite organism of
fungi living with algae; algae provide sugars
(energy) & fungi provides nutrients

Competition __________________________________ since there

are fewer resources available & fewer organisms can
survive
● _________________________________: different
species using the same resource in diff. ways to
reduce competition
○ __________________________: using
resource @ different times, such as wolves
& coyotes hunting @ different times (night
vs. day)
○ __________________________: using diff.
areas of a shared habitat (diff. length roots)
○ __________________________: using diff.
resources based on diff. evolved body
features
Practice FRQ 1.1
Identify two organisms that compete for a shared food
resource.

Describe how resource partitioning could reduce the

competition between the two organisms you identified.
1.2 Terrestrial (Land) Biomes
Biome ______________________: an area that shares a
combination of avg, yearly temp. & precipitation (climate)
The community of org. (plants & animals) in a biome are
___________________________ to live in that biome
Ex: camels & cacti have __________________________
for _____________; shrubs & wildflowers
______________________________________ to recover
quickly from ___________ in _______________________

Biome Characteristics ____________________________ (distance from eq)

determines ____________________________________
which is why biomes exist in predictable pattern on earth

● Biome chart can also predict where on earth biomes are

found

● Biomes are defined by annual ____________________

Nutrient Availability Plants need _________________________ to grow, so

__________________ determines which plants can
survive in a biome
Ex: frozen soils of ________________ don’t allow
_________________ in _______________________ to be
 broken down by decomposers
- Low soil ____________________
- Low water ___________________
- Few plants survive here

Shifting Biomes Biomes _________________ in location on earth as

climate changes

- Ex: warming climate will shift boreal forests further

____________ as tundra permafrost soil melts &

lower latitudes become too ___________ for aspen
& spruce

Practice FRQ 1.2 Identify one characteristic of a biome and explain how
that characteristic determines the community of organisms
found in the biome.
1.3 Aquatic Biomes
Characteristics of _______________________
Aquatic Biomes How much salt there is in a body of water, determines
_______________________ can survive & usability for
_______________________
(Fresh water vs. estuary vs. ocean)

_______________________
Influences how much ______________ can penetrate and
reach plants below the surface for ___________________

___________
Determines which _______________________________,
how much _______________________ into water

____________________.
________________ water holds ____________________
so it can support _____________ aq. organisms

Freshwater: Rivers &

Lakes
● _______________ have _________ due to flow
mixing water & air, also carry nutrient-rich
_______________ (deltas & flood plains = fertile
soil)
● _______________ = standing bodies of fresh H2O
(key drinking H2O source)
● _________________: shallow water w/emergent
plants
● _________________: where light can reach
(photosynth)

○ No rooted plants, only phytoplankton

● _________________: too deep for sunlight (no

phots.)
● _________________: murky bottom where inverts
(bugs) live, nutrient-rich sediments
Freshwater: Wetlands
● ________________: area with soil _____________
________________ in water for at least part of the
year, but shallow enough for _____________ plants
Plants living here have to be ______________ to
living with roots _________________ in standing
water (cattails, lily pads, reeds)

Benefit$ of Wetland$
★ _______________________ during storms,
lessening floods
★ _______________________ by absorbing rainfall
into soil
★ Roots of wetland plants ______________________
from water draining through
★ High productivity (plant growth) due to lots of
________________ (dead organic matter) in
sediments
Estuaries areas where _____________________ into the ocean
Mix of _________________ water (species adapt to this
ex: __________________ trees)
High ___________________ (plant growth) due to
nutrients in sediments deposited in estuaries by river
_____________________:
● Estuary hab. along coast in ___________________
● _______________________ for many fish &
shellfish species
_____________________:
● Estuary hab. along coast of ___________________
● Mangrove trees with long, stilt roots ____________
_________________ & ______________________
for many species of fish & shellfish

Coral Reef ● _________ shallow waters beyond the shoreline;

most ________________ marine (ocean) biome on
earth
● _______________________ relationship between
___________ (animals) & ____________ (plants)
● Coral take _______ out of ocean to create calcium
carbonate __________________ (the reef) & also
provide CO2 to the _______________
● Algae __________________ & provide _________
(energy) to the coral through __________________
Both species rely on the other:
- Coral couldn’t survive without ______________
from algae.
 - Algae need the _______ of the reef & CO2 from the
coral

Intertidal Zones ● Narrow band of coastline between

_____________________
● Organisms must be ________________ to survive
___________________ & ___________________
during low tide
Ex: Barnacles, sea stars, crabs that can attach
themselves to rocks
● Shells & tough outer skin can prevent drying out
(_______________________) during low tides
Diff. organisms are _________________ to live in diff.
Zones
Ex: Spiral wrack (type of seaweed) curls up & secretes
mucus to retain water during low tide

Open Ocean ● Low ______________________/area as only

________ & _________________ can survive in
most of ocean
So ____________ though, that algae & phytoplankton
of ocean _______________ a lot of earth’s _______ &
___________ a lot of atmospheric _________
● _____________________ = area where sunlight
can reach (photosynthesis)
● _____________________ (abyssal) = area too
deep for sunlight
Practice FRQ 1.3

Identify an organism found in an aquatic biome and

explain how that organism is uniquely adapted to live in
that biome.
1.4 The Carbon Cycle
Carbon Cycle Overview ● Movement of molecules that contain Carbon (_____,
_____________, _______) between
________________ and _________________
Some steps are very quick (____________________);
some are very slow (__________________ & _________)
Leads to _________________ in which reservoirs
or sinks are storing carbon

● Atmosphere is key C reservoir; ______________

levels of C in atm. Leads to _________________
● ___________________: a carbon _____________
that __________ more carbon than it ___________
○ ________ (algae & sediments), _________,
__________
● ___________________: processes that _____ C to
__________________.
○ Fossil fuel (oil, coal, nat gas) ____________
○ ______________. (cow burps & farts = CH4)
○ ______________, releases CO2 from trees
Photosynthesis & ________________________
Cellular Respiration
● Plants, algae, phytoplankton
● Removes CO2 from the atmosphere & converts it to
glucose
● Glucose = biological form of C & stored (chemical)
energy in form of sugar
● ________________________
________________________
● Done by plants & animals to release stored energy
● Uses O2 to break glucose down & release energy
● Releases CO2 into atmosphere
● _________________ (adds CO2 to atm.)

Ocean & Atmosphere ● ___________________: CO2 moves directly

between __________________ & the _________ by
__________________ into & out of ocean water at
 the surface
Happens very _________ & in
______________________, balancing levels of
CO2 between atm. & ocean

● B/c of direct exchange, ______________ atm. CO2

also _______________ ocean CO2, leading to
____________________________
● _________________________: take CO2 out of the
ocean & atm. through _____________________
○ ___________ reef & marine org. with
_________ also take CO2 out of the ocean to
make ____________________________
● ______________________: when marine org. die,
their bodies sink to ocean floor where they’re
broken down into sediments that contain C
○ _____________: over, long, periods of time,
pressure of water compresses C-containing
sediments on ocean floor into sedimentary
stone (limestone, sandstone) - long-term C
reservoir

Burial, Extraction, & ● _______________: slow, geological process that

Combustion stores C in underground sinks like sedimentary rock
or fossil fuels

● _______________ (bits of rock, soil, organic

matter) compressed into sed. rock, or FF, by
pressure from overlying rock layers or water

● __________________: coal, oil, and Nat. gas are

formed from fossilized remains of org. Matter. Ex:
dead ferns (coal) or marine algae & plankton (oil)

● __________________: digging up or mining FFs &

burning them as energy source; releases CO2 into
atm.
_________________ (formation of FFs) takes far
________________ than extraction & combustion,
which means they ______________________________
of CO2 in atmosphere
Practice FRQ 1.4

Identify ONE process in the diagram that happens quickly

and ONE process that happens slowly.

Explain how the rate at which fossil fuels are transferred

into the atmosphere, as shown in the diagram, has altered
the carbon cycle during the past 250 years.
1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle Mvmnt of ______________________________ between
Overview ____________ & _________________________
Sources release N into atmosphere; sinks take N out of the
atmosphere in increasing amounts
N ______________ hold N for relatively _____________
period of time compared to C cycle
- Ex: ______________________________________
__________________ = ________ N reservoir
N in atm. exists mostly as _______ gas, not ___________
by plants or animals
N = critical plant & animal ___________________
All living things need N for __________ & amino acids to
make _______________

Nitrogen Fixation Process of N2 gas being ______________________ into

_______________________ (useable by plants)
____________________ or ________________________
_________________ fixation: certain bacteria that live in
the _________, or in __________________ relationship
with plant _______________ convert
_________________________________
_____________________ live in root nodules of
_____________ (peas, beans) & ____________ for them
in return for ______________ from the plant
___________________: humans __________________ to
convert _______ gas into _________________
Nitrates are added to __________________________ like
_______________ & used in _____________________
 Other N Cycle Steps _________________________: plants & animals _______
_______________ and _____________________ it into
their body
Plant roots take in ________________ from soil;
animals assimilate N by ___________ plants or
other animals
_________________________: soil bacteria, microbes &
decomposers ____________________________ back into
_________ and returning it to __________
_________________________: conversion of _______
into ______________ & then _____________ by soil
bacteria
_________________________: conversion of soil N
_______ into ______________________ gas which
returns to atmosphere

Human Impacts on N __________________: N2O (nitrous oxide) =

Cycle ________________________ which warm earth’s climate
Produced by ____________________ of nitrate in
agricultural soils (especially when waterlogged / over
watered)
_____________________________: excess ___________
use can lead to ___________ gas entering atm.
NH3 gas in atm = ____________________ (rain) and
_______________________ in humans & animals
It also means _______________________l for crops to
use for growth (lost ____________)
_____________________________: synthetic fertilizer
use leads to nitrates (NO3) ______________, or being
carried out of soil by water
Nitrates _____________ into local waters, causing
_______________________ that block sun & kill other aq.
plants

Practice FRQ 1.5 Describe ONE chemical transformation that occurs in the
natural nitrogen cycle and explain the importance of that
transformation to an ecosystem.
1.6 The Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle ● Movement of P atoms & molecules b/w
Basics ___________ & ____________________________

____________________________ containing P minerals =

major reservoirs

P cycle is _________________ compared to C/H2O/N

cycles

Takes a long time for P minerals to be ______________

out of rocks & ____________ into soil/bodies of water

___________________ of P (doesn’t enter atmosphere)

B/c it cycles so slowly, it is a _____________________,

meaning ___________________ in ecosystems is often
limited by P availability in soil/water

P is needed by all organisms for DNA, ATP (energy), bone

& tooth enamel in some animals

Phosphorus Sources Major natural source of P is ________________________

 that contain P minerals.

Wind & rain break down rock & ______________________

is _____________ and ________________ into water; rain
water carries phosphate into nearby ________ & bodies of
water

Weathering is so slow that P is often a limiting nutrient in

___________________________ ecosystems

_____________________ (human) sources of P =

__________ phosphate minerals & adding to products like
synthetic _____________ & ________________________

Synthetic ________________ containing phosphates are

added to ________________________; __________
carries P into nearby ________________________

Phosphates from ________________ & ___________

enter bodies of water via ____________________ from
homes

Assimilation & Just like N, P is _________________ by plant roots &

Excretion/Decomp. ___________________ into tissues; animals assimilate P
by ___________ plants or other animals

Animal waste, plant matter & other biomass is broken

down by ___________________________ that return
phosphate to soil
 ___________________ & ____________________ form a
mini-loop within P cycle just like assimilation &
ammonification in N Cycle, photosynth & resp. in C cycle

Sedimentation & Geo. Phosphate ___________________________ very well into

Uplift water; much of it forms solid bits of phosphate that fall to
the bottom as _____________________ (sedimentation)

P sediments can be __________________ into

____________________________ over long time periods
by pressure of overlying water

____________________________ = tectonic plate

collision forcing up rock layers that form mountains; P
cycle can start over again with weathering & release of
phosphate from rock

Eutrophication **Can occur from __________________, human/animal

(too much N & P) ______________ contamination

B/c they’re limiting nutrients in aq. ecosystems, extra input

of N & P lead to ______________________ (excess
nutrients) which fuels algae growth

Algae bloom _______________________ of water,

__________________________ & __________________
below surface

Algae eventually die-off; __________________ that break

down dead algae use up __________ in the water (b/c
decomp. = aerobic process)

Lower O2 levels (_____________________) in water

______ aquatic animals, especially fish
Practice FRQ 1.6

Choose 2 reservoirs depicted in the diagram above and

describe how phosphorus moves from one to the other
1.7 The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
Water Cycle Overview Movement of _____________ (in different states) b/w
____________ & ____________
_________________________ (solid/liquid/gas) as well
as _____________ water is moving are key in H2O cycle
Ex: precipitation = atm. (gas) → land or surface
water (liquid)
Energy from _________ drives the H2O cycle
Ex: heat from sun causes liquid water in ocean to become a
gas (evaporation) in atm.
_______________ = largest water reservoir
______________ & __________________ are smaller
reservoirs, but contain fresh, useable water for humans

Evaporation & 2 main __________________ of water (processes that

Evapotranspiration cycle it from liquid on earth back into the atmosphere)
Sometimes called “_______________” since liquid water
becomes water vapor (gas) in atm.
__________________: process ___________ use to draw
groundwater from ___________ up to their ____________
Leaf openings called _____________ open, allowing water
to evap. into atm. from leaf
Mvmnt of H2O out of leaf creates low _____________ in
leaf, pulling H2O up from roots
__________________: amount of H2O that enters atm.
from transpiration & evap. combined
Both processes are driven by ________ from the ______
Runoff & Infiltration Precipitation (rain) either _____ _____ earth’s surface into
a body of water (runoff) or _____ _____ soil down into
groundwater aquifers (_____)
Groundwater (____) & surface waters (lakes/rivers) are
important _____ reservoirs for humans & animals
Precipitation _____ groundwater through infiltration, but
only if ground is _____ (able to let water pass through)
Runoff recharges _____ waters, but can also carry _____
into water sources
Practice FRQ 1.7

Choose a process from the diagram. Identify the process

and describe how water is moving from one reservoir to
another.
1.8 Primary Productivity
PP Basics
Primary Productivity: rate that __________ energy is
____________ into ____________ compounds via
__________ over a unit of __________

Aka: rate of photosynthesis of all producers in an area over

a given period of time

Since photosynthesis leads to ____________, you can also

think of PP as the ____________ of plant _____________
in an area over a given period of time

units: kcal/m2/yr.

_______ PP = ________ plant growth = ______________

of food & shelter for animals

Ecosystems with _______ PP are usually more

_____________________ (more div. of species) than
ecosystems with low PP

Calculating PP
Respiration loss (RL): plants _____________ up some of
the _____________ they generate via photosynthesis by
_________ __________ __________ (movement, internal
transportation, etc.)

Think of RL as taxes plants need to play

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): The _____________

amount of ____________ energy (light) that plants capture
and ___________ to energy (______________) through
photosynthesis

Think of GPP as the total paycheck amount the plant

 earns

NPP = GPP - RL

Net Primary Productivity (NPP): The amount of energy

(_____________) leftover for ________________ after
plants have used some for respiration

Think of NPP as the actual amount of the plant’s paycheck

it keeps after taxes

Ecological Efficiency The portion of ______________ solar energy that is

captured by plants & converted into biomass (NPP or
_____________ ________________ for consumers)

Generally, only ________________ of all incoming sunlight

is captured & ______________ into GPP via
photosynthesis

Of that 1%, only about ____________ (or ____________ of

total incoming solar energy) is converted into
______________/______________ (NPP)

Some ecosystems are _____________ ______________

 (higher NPP) than others

Trends in Productivity The more ______________ a biome is, the ________

the _____________ of animal life it can ______________
(high. biodiv.)
***Try to predict the most & least productive terrestrial and
aquatic biomes ***

Water _____________, ____________ temperature, and

____________ availability are all factors that lead to
______________ NPP
Shortage of any of these three factors will lead to
decreased NPP

Ex: Desert (low H2O & nutrients)

Tundra (low temp & liquid H2O)

Open ocean (low nutrients)

Practice FRQ 1.8 Describe the process of net primary productivity (NPP).

Describe the relationship between primary productivity and

biodiversity.
1.9 & 1.10 Trophic Levels & The 10% Rule
Conservation of Matter Matter & energy are never ____________ or __________;
& Energy they only __________ ___________
Ex: Tree dies & the C/N/H2O/P are returned to the
soil & atmosphere

Ex: Sun rays (__________ energy) hit leaves & are

__________ into glucose (___________ energy)

__________ __________ of __________: energy is never

created or destroyed
__________ __________ demonstrate conservation of
matter (C/N/H2O/P)
__________ __________ demonstrate conservation of
energy
Ex: When a rabbit eats a leaf, the energy from the
leaf (glucose) is transfered to the rabbit & stored as
body tissue like fat/muscle

2nd Law of Each time energy is transferred, some of it is

Thermodynamics ______________ as ______________
Applied to food webs: the amount of useable energy
decreases___________ as you move _____________ the
food chain (organisms use up most of it for movement,
development, etc.)

Because *available* energy decreases with each step

up the food chain, a _______________ (troph =
nourishment or growth) is used to _________________
how energy moves _____________ an ecosystem

10% Rule: in trophic pyramids, only about __________ of

the energy from ___________ ___________ makes it to
the ____________ ___________; the other ___________
is _____________ by the organism & ______________ as

heat
Trophic Levels & 10% ___________ Consumers: animals that eat secondary
Biomass consumers or carnivores & omnivores (aka - top/apex
predators)

___________ Consumers: animals that eat primary

consumers or herbivores (aka - carnivores & omnivores)

___________ Consumers: animals that eat plants

(herbivores)

___________ (plants) “produce”- really convert sun’s light

energy into chemical energy (glucose)

10% rule also applies to _____________ (or mass of all

living things at each trophic level) Since energy is needed
for growth & only 10% of energy transfers from one level
to the next, only 10% of the biomass can be
grown/supported
Calculating Biomass & To calculate biomass or energy available at the next
Energy level up, ___________ the ___________ ___________
___________ __________ to the V__________(or _____
by 10)

Calculating Biomass & Try calculating biomass

Energy

Practice FRQs 1.9 & Explain why a relatively large forest can only support a
1.10 small number of wolves.

Calculate the amount of energy available to a tertiary

consumer in the following ecosystem.
100,000 J of energy produced by plants in the ecosystem
1.11 Food Chains & Food Webs
Food Web Basics Shows how ____________ & __________ flow ________
an ecosystem, from organism to organism
When one organism __________ (eats) ___________, the
matter (C/N/H2O/P) and energy (glucose, muscle tissue,
etc.) are ___________ on to the _____________
__________ in food webs indicate _____________ of
____________ ____________ (point to the org. taking in
the energy)

Food Web vs. Chain Food chains just show ____________, _________
___________ of energy & matter
Food webs have at least 2 different, ___________ food
chains
Webs show that organisms can exist at different trophic
levels
grass → hare → owl (sec. cons.)
grass → grasshopper → robin → owl (tert. cons.)
Interactions & Food webs show how _____________ or __________ in
Trophic Cascade ___________. __________ of a given species _________
the rest of the food web
Ex: Increase in python pop.
- Decrease in frog & rat pops.
- Increase in grasshopper pop.
- Decrease in corn
___________ ____________: removal or addition of a
___________ ____________ has a _____________ effect
____________ through lower troph. Levels
Ex: decline in wolf pop. = increase in deer pop. which leads
to overgrazing & decline in trees
Practice FRQ 1.11

Describe one direct effect that a decline in the frog

population would have on the food web.

Identify an organism that is both a secondary and tertiary

consumer.