Enviro (unit3) Study Help

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    APES Study Guide (unit 3)

    1. Three basic characteristics of ecosystems. Things like stable andunstable or whether or not it supports non linear functions orequilibrium. The characteristics are all functioning parts of theecosystem itself. Things like population increase or decrease, orthe levels; tertiary, secondary, and primary.

    2. The two different definitions build to the conclusion its aboutliving in harmony whether or not they have anything in common,its about sustaining life through whatever matters.

    3. There are many differences between abiotic, and bioticcomponents that build ecosystems. Abiotic components arethings like, sunlight, temperature, precipitation, moisture, andsoil chemistry or make-up. Biotic components are things like,carnivores, herbivores, omnivores primary producers and tertiaryproducers. Considering all these factors, artificial ecosystems are

    hard to create. There are so many things that need to be setup incertain formations in order to work right. There are also lots ofthings that we may or may not have control of.

    4. Sea otters eat sea crustateans, which keep the kelp plant life incheck. Sea otters are secondary consumers, eating the urchins,which are primary consumers. The loss of primary consumersmeans that the kelp flourishes and takes over without anythingto keep it in check. The sea otters relationship affects the kelpeven though it does not eat or interact with it.

    5. All contribute in various ways, some do more then others.Natural selection: allows the species to weed out the weak and

    the ones who cant reproduce. Genetic drift: allows only goodtraits to be thrown into the mix and helps the species determineits fate. Geographic Isolation: allows the species to buildnumbers but not be competitive with its fellow species.Migration: allows species to have warmer climates in which toraise young to help keep its numbers in check. Mutations: helppopulations from dying out.

    6. The trees changed color making the moths more vunerable toprey. In return the moth population changed its color over a fewcenturys in order to hide on the trees once more.

    7. Suppose the white Bengal tigers favored the gene that made

    them faster runners. Say that gene accidentally also broughtabout asmall change in their coat color and they turned greyinstead of white. In the winter they could no longer hide in thesnow and hunters shot them to extinction. Hypothetically.

    8. Island biogeography, is a theory that claims that certain islandshave species not native anywhere else. That the island itself wasenough to sustain them in all their needs. Food, breeding ,and

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    substantial prey all in one place. Its just a theory thatenvironments like this actually exsist.

    9. Biological diversity is common because of many factors andallows the animals or organisms themselves to happily build anenvironment together. Environmental factors like predetor and

    prey relationships, symbiotic or asymbiotic relationships, and theoverall health of the environment.