1
Q
Define:
An ecosystem
A
It is the collection of biotic and abiotic factors in an area.
Biotic factors include living things like plants, animalsand bacteria. Abiotic factors include non-living things like soil, water and sunlight.
2
Q
List:
The three main categories of factors in an ecosystem.
A
- Autotrophs
- Heterotrophs
- Non-living matter
Autotrophs make their own food, heterotrophs consume other organisms for food and non-living matter includes all abiotic factors.
3
Q
List:
The two main types of ecosystems.
A
- Terrestrial
- Aquatic
Terrestrial ecosystems exist on land, while aquatic ecosystems occur in water.
4
Q
Define:
biomes
A
Large collections of ecosystems defined by their distinctive precipitation, temperature, vegetation and wildlife.
5
Q
Describe:
taiga
A
The largest terrestrial biome, characterized by coniferous forests and has long, cold winters.
6
Q
Describe:
tundra
A
A type of biome characterized by small grasses, shrubs and small mammals.
It does not support trees due to harsh and cold weather.
7
Q
Describe:
deciduous forest
A
Ecosystem featuring forests of broad-leaved trees and diverse animal species. They experience four seasons and sustain a rich variety of life.
Also called temperate deciduous forest or broadleaf forest.
8
Q
Define:
temperate grassland
A
Ecosystem with grass as dominant vegetation, grazing animals, four seasons and rich soil.
Savannas, distinct from temperate grasslands, are warm grasslands in Africa with two main seasons: wet and dry.
9
Q
List:
The three main types of aquatic ecosystems.
A
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Brackish
Freshwater ecosystems have low salt concentrations, marine ecosystems are located in the ocean, and brackish ecosystems occur where saltwater and freshwater meet.
10
Q
Identify:
An example of a freshwater ecosystem.
A
Pond
Freshwater ecosystems include ponds, lakes, rivers and streams.
11
Q
Identify:
An example of a marine ecosystem.
A
Coral reef
Also called the tropical rainforests of the ocean.
Marine ecosystems are present in the ocean.
12
Q
Identify:
An example of brackish water ecosystem.
A
Mangrove
Brackish water ecosystems occur where saltwater and freshwater meet.
13
Q
Identify:
An example of a closed ecosystem.
A
Terrarium
Closed ecosystems do not exchange matter and energy with other environments.
14
Q
Explain:
What does a food chain represent?
A
Feeding interactions in an ecosystem, showing who eats whom.
15
Q
Identify:
Who forms the base of the food chain?
A
Producers or autotrophs.
16
Q
Define:
A trophic level
A
The category of feeding that the organism occupies with relation to the food being produced.
17
Q
List:
The five trophic levels.
A
- Producers
- Primary Consumers
- Secondary Consumers
- Tertiary Consumers
- Quaternary Consumers
18
Q
Define:
autotrophs
A
Organisms that create or produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
19
Q
Define:
primary consumers
A
Organisms that feed on producers, typically herbivores.
20
Q
Define:
secondary consumers
A
Organisms that feed on primary consumers and can be either carnivores or omnivores.
This trophic level is where predators start to appear.
21
Q
Define:
tertiary consumer
A
Organisms that feed on secondary consumers.
They are typically predators.
22
Q
Define:
quaternary consumers
A
Apex predators that feed on tertiary consumers and below.
They are at the top of the food chain with few predators.
23
Q
Define:
herbivores
A
Organisms that feed exclusively on plant matter.
24
Q
Define:
carnivores
A
Organisms that feed exclusively on meat or other animals.
25
# Define:
omnivores
Organisms that feed on both **plants** and **meat**.
26
# Explain:
What do **food webs** represent?
All of the **food chains within an ecosystem** and their interconnected relationships.
27
# Define:
symbiosis
Any kind of relationship or **interaction between two different species** where at least one organism benefits.
28
# Define:
endosymbiosis
**Symbiotic relationship** where a smaller organism lives within the cells, tissues or structures inside a **host** organism's body.
## Footnote
'Endo-' in endosymbiosis refers to 'within', 'inner' or 'containing'.
29
# Define:
ectosymbiosis
A **symbiotic relationship** where one organism lives on the **surface** of another.
## Footnote
'Ecto-' in ectosymbiosis refers to 'outer', 'outside' or 'external'.
30
# List:
The three types of **symbiotic relationships**
* Mutualism
* Commensalism
* Parasitism
31
# Describe:
mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where **both organisms benefit** by providing needed resources to the other.
## Footnote
Example: pistol shrimp and goby.
32
# Describe:
commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where **one organism benefits** and **the other is neither helped nor harmed**.
## Footnote
Example: cattle egret and cow.
33
# Describe:
parasitism
A symbiotic relationship where **one organism (the parasite) benefits** and **the other (the host) is harmed**.
## Footnote
Example: Braconid wasps and the tomato hornworm.
34
# Explain:
The **difference** between a *predator* and *prey*.
* A **predator** captures and eats another organism.
* A **prey** is the organism being captured and eaten.
35
# Define:
coevolution
When the fitness of two different species is tightly linked, and these **species evolve in response to evolutionary changes in each other**.
36
# Identify:
Which **adaptation** allows a polar bear to **blend in** with its snowy environment?
camouflage
37
# Describe:
warning coloration
A specialized body coloration used to **warn predators** or signal danger.
38
# Describe:
**Fluctuation** in population dynamics
A situation where **stability is lost**, leading to rapid growth or decline.
## Footnote
Fluctuation can have cascading effects on related species, such as predators and prey.
39
# Define:
**Immigration** in the context of population dynamics
When an individual or group comes to a new area.
## Footnote
This term is often confused with emigration.
40
# Define:
**Emigration** in the context of population dynamics
When an individual or group leaves an area.
## Footnote
Understanding both terms is crucial for studying wildlife populations.
41
# Fill in the blank:
A stable population allows for effective __________ in resource management.
planning
## Footnote
Stability in populations aids those managing ecological resources.
42
# Explain:
The relationship between **human population growth** and **food production**
Human population growth is accelerating due to increased food production capabilities.
## Footnote
Concerns arise about the **sustainability** of this growth.
43
# Explain:
The role **ecologists** play in studying populations
They **survey** ecosystems and **assess** the organisms within them.
## Footnote
This helps in accurately representing **ecological data**.
44
# List:
The three types of **rocks**
* Igneous rocks
* Metamorphic rocks
* Sedimentary rocks
## Footnote
These rock types continually form through **geological processes**.
45
# Define:
magma
**Molten rock** found beneath the Earth’s surface from which igneous rocks are formed.
## Footnote
When magma cools and crystallizes, it forms igneous rocks. If it reaches the surface, it is called **lava**.
46
How can **igneous rocks** transform?
* They can form **metamorphic rocks** through heat and pressure
* Weathered and eroded into **sediment**
* Transformed back into **magma**
## Footnote
Igneous rocks have multiple transformation paths.
47
# Explain:
What causes **weathering**?
**Processes of the atmosphere**, water or ice, biological organisms or chemical processes.
## Footnote
Weathering is the first step in forming sedimentary rocks.
48
# Define:
erosion
The process that **moves broken pieces of rock** away, usually caused by water or wind.
## Footnote
Erosion is crucial for **sediment transport**.
49
# Identify:
An example of a **chemical sedimentary rock**.
Stalactites and stalagmites.
## Footnote
These are **chemical sedimentary structures** precipitated into rocks, generally found in caves.
50
# Explain:
What happens to **metamorphic rock** under intense **heat** and **pressure**?
It **recrystallizes** and may form larger crystals or new minerals.
## Footnote
This does not involve melting into magma.
51
# List:
The **geological processes** that can lead to the formation of **sedimentary rocks**
* Weathering
* Erosion
* Compaction
* Cementation
## Footnote
These processes are part of the **sedimentary rock cycle**.
52
# Explain:
The role of **energy** in the **rock cycle**
Energy from Earth's inner heat and solar energy drives **rock-making** and **destruction** processes.
## Footnote
**Tectonic activities** and **weathering** are influenced by these energy sources.
53
# Define:
Tectonic plates
Large sections of the Earth's **crust** that **move** independently.
## Footnote
Tectonic plates are solid and drift on currents of the underlying mantle.
54
# List:
The two main types of **tectonic plates**
* Continental
* Oceanic
## Footnote
Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates.
55
# Identify:
The name of the area where **two tectonic plates meet**
A fault.
## Footnote
The movement of plates creates these **boundaries**.
56
# List:
The three main types of **tectonic plate movement**.
* Convergent boundaries
* Divergent boundaries
* Transform boundaries
## Footnote
Each type of boundary has distinct geological features and processes.
57
# Describe:
What occurs at **convergent boundaries**?
Two tectonic plates **move towards each other**.
## Footnote
Depending on the plates involved, one may **subduct** under the other. The Nazca Plate is an example.
58
# Describe:
What happens at **divergent boundaries**?
Two tectonic plates **move apart**.
## Footnote
* This can create **volcanoes**, **mountain ranges** and **rift valleys**.
* The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a divergent boundary.
59
# Describe:
What occurs at **transform boundaries**?
Two plates **slide** past each other.
## Footnote
* This movement can create **earthquakes** due to the friction between plates.
* The San Andreas Fault is a famous example.
60
# List:
The seven main **tectonic plates**.
* North American Plate
* Eurasian Plate
* African Plate
* Antarctic Plate
* Indo-Australian Plate
* Pacific Plate
* South American Plate
## Footnote
The Indo-Australian Plate may be separated into Australian and Indian Plates.
61
# List:
Some **geological features** formed by **divergent boundaries**.
* Volcanoes
* Mountain ranges
* Rift valleys
## Footnote
The **East African Rift Valley** is an example of a **rift valley** formed at a **divergent boundary**.
62
# Define:
volcano
A **vent in the top layer of a planet** or moon where molten rock or steam has escaped.
## Footnote
**Volcanology** is the study of volcanoes.
63
# Identify:
The two locations of **molten rock** in relation to the Earth's crust.
**Magma** (under the crust) and **lava** (on top of the crust).
## Footnote
**Magma** becomes **lava** when it escapes through a vent.
64
# List:
The four main **types of volcanoes**.
* Cinder cones
* Composite volcanoes
* Shield volcanoes
* Lava domes
## Footnote
Each type has distinct shapes and eruption styles.
65
# Describe:
A cinder cone volcano
Simplest form of volcano, formed by lava ejected from a **single vent**.
## Footnote
Its **violent eruptions** create a circular or oval-shaped cone of falling **cinders**, often with a **crater** at the top.
66
# Describe:
A composite volcano
Steep-sided and symmetrical volcano, made of layered lava and cinders, with a **summit crater** and one or more **clustered vents**.
67
# Define:
A shield volcano
**Broad and rounded volcano**, formed by slow, fluid lava flows.
## Footnote
Lava can erupt from a central vent or nearby fissures and may include some of the largest volcanoes.
68
# Describe:
Lava dome
It forms when thick **lava piles up near the vent**, expanding outward as it cools and hardens.
69
# Describe:
Volcanic activity
When a substance escapes through the surface of the Earth, including hot gas, lava or rocks.
## Footnote
Can occur continuously or sporadically.
70
# Define:
An eruption
Sudden **discharge of volcanic material**, often violent and unexpected.
71
# Define:
**extinct** volcano
A volcano that scientists predict **will never erupt** again.
## Footnote
**Rejuvenation** can occur, making an extinct volcano active once more.
72
# Define:
earthquake
Sudden and violent **shaking of the ground** caused by movement within the earth's crust.
## Footnote
This movement is typically due to the release of energy along faults.
73
# Identify:
The instruments used to measure **seismic waves**.
Seismographs
## Footnote
Seismographs record the motion of the seismic waves when they arrive at their location.
74
Where do most **earthquakes** occur?
Along **faults** within the earth, particularly at **tectonic plate boundaries**.
## Footnote
Earthquakes can also occur on **intraplate faults**.
75
# Define:
tsunami
A series of **very large water waves** caused by **underwater earthquakes**.
## Footnote
Tsunamis can reach heights of up to 100 feet and cause significant destruction.
76
# Define:
seismic waves
Propagation of **mechanical energy** through the Earth's layers.
77
# List:
The four types of **seismic waves**.
* P-waves
* S-waves
* Rayleigh waves
* Love waves
78
# Define:
A **fault** in a geological context
**Line** along which two sections of rock can move against each other.
79
# Identify:
The three types of **faults**.
* **Thrust or Reverse**: One block shifts **upward** compared to the other.
* **Normal**: One block shifts **downward** relative to the other.
* **Strike-slip**: Blocks **slide** past each other.
80
# Explain:
The **difference** between the epicenter and the focus (hypocenter).
* The **epicenter** is the point on the Earth's surface directly **above the hypocenter**.
* The **focus** (or **hypocenter**) is the point **inside the Earth** where an earthquake originates.
## Footnote
The focus is the location of the earthquake at depth.
81
# Explain:
The role of **aftershocks**.
They **release remaining built-up** elastic strain after the main earthquake.
## Footnote
**Aftershocks** can occur unpredictably for years after the main event.
82
# Fill in the blank:
The **water cycle** is also known as the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
hydrologic cycle
## Footnote
The water cycle describes how water moves on, above and below the Earth's surface.
83
# List:
The **states of matter** that water changes through in the **water cycle**.
* **Solid** ice
* **Liquid** water
* **Gaseous** water vapor
## Footnote
These states are part of the **hydrosphere**, which is all the water at or near Earth's surface.
84
# List:
The three main parts of the **water cycle**.
* Evaporation
* Condensation
* Precipitation
## Footnote
These processes describe how water moves through the cycle.
85
# Define:
**Evaporation** in the water cycle
The process by which liquid water is heated and changes to gaseous water vapor.
## Footnote
**Evaporation** is the most common way for water to re-enter the atmosphere.
86
# Define:
condensation
The process through which gaseous water vapor becomes liquid water.
## Footnote
Commonly misunderstood as rain, which is actually a result of **condensation**.
87
# List:
The two ways **condensation** can occur.
* Saturation
* Cooling to the dew point
## Footnote
**Saturation** occurs when air cannot hold more water vapor, while cooling occurs when vapor loses heat energy.
88
# Define:
precipitation
The process by which water returns to Earth's surface from the atmosphere.
## Footnote
**Precipitation** can be in **liquid** (rain) or **solid** (snow, hail) form.
89
# List:
The additional processes in the **water cycle** besides evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
* Sublimation
* Transpiration
* Runoff
* Infiltration
## Footnote
These processes help describe the full **cycle of water** movement.
90
# Define:
sublimation
The instantaneous change from frozen water to water vapor.
## Footnote
Often occurs with snow, which can turn directly into vapor without melting.
91
# Define:
transpiration
The **evaporation** of liquid water from within plants through their leaves.
## Footnote
Water is lost to the atmosphere in the form of water vapor through **stomata** (tiny openings or pores found on plants).
92
# Define:
runoff
The flow of liquid water over the ground due to gravity.
## Footnote
Common during and **after rain** events.
93
# Define:
infiltration
The process of liquid water **percolating** down through the soil into the ground.
## Footnote
Infiltration replenishes **aquifers** and is a slow process.
94
Why is the **water cycle** important?
It recycles water **essential for life** and is tied to climate and weather patterns.
## Footnote
Only about **3% of Earth's water is freshwater**, crucial for all life.
95
# List:
The seven stages of the **water cycle** in order.
* Evaporation
* Condensation
* Precipitation
* Sublimation
* Transpiration
* Runoff
* Infiltration
## Footnote
This sequence helps visualize the continuous movement of water.
96
# Identify:
The name of the process that **breaks down rocks** and minerals.
Weathering
## Footnote
It can occur through **mechanical** or **chemical means**.
97
# List:
The two main types of **weathering**.
* Mechanical weathering
* Chemical weathering
98
# Explain:
The results of **mechanical weathering**.
It causes **physical changes to rocks**, breaking them apart.
## Footnote
The **Grand Canyon** was primarily formed by **mechanical weathering** and **erosion** from the Colorado River.
99
# Identify:
The natural factor that can cause **rocks to crumble** through **temperature changes**.
Repeated **expansion** and **contraction** due to temperature fluctuations.
100
# Identify:
An example of a **plant** that contributes to weathering.
Tree roots
101
# Define:
chemical weathering
A process that changes the chemical makeup of rocks.
102
# Define:
carbonic acid
A compound formed when **carbon dioxide and water combine**.
## Footnote
It is an example of **chemical weathering**.
103
# List:
Formations created by the **chemical weathering of limestone**.
* Caves
* Sinkholes
* Karst formations
104
# Define:
acid rain
**Rain that contains chemicals** from fossil fuel combustion.
105
# Fill in the blank:
**Mechanical weathering** changes the shape of rocks due to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_.
physical forces
106
# Describe:
The geologic time scale
It is a timeline that shows the **Earth's history** divided into time units based on significant events.
## Footnote
It covers 4.6 **billion years** since the Earth formed.
107
# Define:
relative age dating
It is the process of determining the **age of rock layers** based on their position and the fossils they contain.
## Footnote
The oldest rock layers lie at the bottom.
108
# Define:
absolute age dating
Calculating the actual age of rocks using **radiometric dating**.
## Footnote
This method was developed in the early 1900s. **Radiometric dating** is based on the known decay rate of **radioactive isotopes**.
109
# Define:
The law of superposition
The principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the **oldest layers are at the bottom**.
## Footnote
This concept was recognized by **Steno** in the mid-1600s.
The rock layers of the **Grand Canyon** are the oldest at the bottom and get younger moving up. This is an example of the **law of superposition**.
110
# Explain:
The significance of **extinction events** in the **geologic time scale**.
They often mark the **end of one time unit** and the **start of another**.
111
# Fill in the blank:
The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Era is known for the age of **mammals**.
Cenozoic
112
# Identify:
The primary characteristic of the **Paleogene Period**.
It is characterized by the **Paleocene**, **Eocene** and **Oligocene** Epochs.
113
# Explain:
What causes **tides**?
The daily rise and fall of seawater is caused by the **force of gravity** from mainly the **moon** and a little bit from the sun.
## Footnote
The **moon** is Earth's closest celestial body that **has the most influence on tides**.
114
# List:
The two types of **tides** experienced daily.
* High tide
* Low tide
## Footnote
**High tide** occurs when water **moves inshore** to reach its highest point, while **low tide** occurs when seawater **retreats** to its lowest point.
115
# Explain:
The impact **tides** can have on **coastlines**.
They can cause both damaging and beneficial effects on coastlines.
## Footnote
Damaging effects include storm surges, as seen in Hurricane Katrina, while beneficial effects include bringing nutrients into estuaries.
116
# Define:
estuaries
Ecosystems where **freshwater mixes with the ocean**, providing unique habitats for various animal and plant life.
## Footnote
Juvenile organisms often seek shelter in estuaries, which are partially protected from ocean tides.
Decks in class (16)
# Cards
-
1 - Analyzing and Understanding Literature94
-
2 - Literary Methods and Their Effects75
-
3 - Reading and Communication Skills115
-
4 - Number Sense and Basic Algebra95
-
5 - Geometry and Measurement Concepts118
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6 - Data Analysis and Probability Skills74
-
7 - Historical Continuity and Geographic Regions103
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8 - Socio-Historical Shifts: Effects of World-Changing Conflicts97
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9 - Human Interaction with Nature, Resources, and the Earth's Physical Aspects78
-
10 - Civics, Government, and Economic Choices124
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11 - Nature and History of Science110
-
12 - Physics130
-
13 - Chemistry and Biology152
-
14 - Ecology and Earth Science116
-
15 - Astronomy and Atmospheric Science70
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16 - Science, Technology, and Social Perspectives89
