M5 IQ 1 Topic 1 - Ecosystems and their management: Biophysical interactions

Question 1

What are ecosystems

Answer 1

A system formed by the interaction of all living organisms (plants, animals, humans) with each other and with the physical elements of the environment in which they live.

Question 2

what are the factors affecting the ecosystem (4)(3)

Answer 2

Atmosphere:
- sunlight
-climate/weather
- Temperature & rainfall determine productivity of eco
Biosphere:
- Oxygen Levels
- food chains and webs
-  Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms
Hydrosphere:
- brackish water (how salty)
- High rainfall = High Biodiversity
- Ground Water
Lithosphere:
- Alluvial soil
-Minerals
-Altitude

Question 3

what type of climate & Environment do you get with high rainfall and high temperatures

Answer 3

Hot + Wet climate, Tropical Rainforest (ie. Amazon.)

Question 4

what type of climate & Environment do you get with low rainfall and high temperatures

Answer 4

Hot + Dry, Dessert (ie Sahara)

Question 5

what type of climate & Environment do you get with low rainfall and low temperatures

Answer 5

Cold + icy, Taiga (Northern carnivorous forest)

Question 6

what is ecology

Answer 6

the study of the interactions between organisms and their biotic and non biotic (living and non living) environment

Question 7

what determines how complex an ecosystem is

Answer 7

The number of possible interactions between different organisms and their invironment

Question 8

steps of the hydrological cycle (3)

Answer 8

1. Water is evaporated into vapor from oceans and transpiration from plants
2. vapor condensed into clouds
3. Precipitation occurs creating run off which travels heading towards the ocean watering plants along the way or sinking towards the ground water table

Question 9

steps of the nutrients cycle (3)

Answer 9

1.Nutrients is absorbed from the ground by plants
2.Organic matter dies and decomposers
3.Leaching occurs absorbing the necessary nutrients
into the soil

Question 10

steps of the carbon cycle (2)

Answer 10

1. fuel is burned (wood, fossil fuels, coal) or organisms respire releasing carbon dioxide,
2. carbon dioxide absorbed by trees and releases oxygen

Question 11

what are keystone species

Answer 11

species that play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community

Question 12

list examples of keystones species their role and importance (2 (2))

Answer 12

California sea otter
- Role: Preys on sea urchins keeping their numbers low
- Importance: preventing them from grazing kelp
forests, as they are used as homes, absorb CO2 and
protect the shoreline

Krill

• Role: Main source of food for many predators
• Importance: Low availability of krill lowers the survivability of predators

Question 13

what is a symbiotic relationship

Answer 13

when two organisms share a mutualistic connection where both organisms help the other

Question 14

give an example of a symbiotic relationships

Answer 14

Clownfish and anemone

• Clownfish: chases away other fish that try and eat the anemone and cleans it
• Anemone: provides a habitat for clownfish