APES Unit 1 Test

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

secondary consumer

A carnivore that eats primary consumers

Omnivore

A consumer that eats both plants and animals

Carnivore

A consumer that eats only animals.

Herbivore

A consumer that eats only plants.

Primary Consumers

A consumer that eats producers

biome

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

Food chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

scavenger

An organism that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food (producer)

Detritivore

An organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles.

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline. Organisms include corals, starfish, small fish, and algae. These organisms adapt in which corals create a barrier so predators cannot enter. A major threat to this biome is coral bleaching

Identify the least productive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Extreme desert is the least productive terrestrial ecosystem, and open oceans are the least productive aquatic ecosystem

Mangroves

Found around subtropical coasts, where rivers meet salt water. Everglades National park is a great example of this. Plants include mangrove trees and buttonwood. Animals also include fish, alligators and shellfish. Plants and animals have adapted to this biome by protecting the coastlines from storm damage. A major threat to Mangroves are them being destroyed for human development.

Boreal Forest (taiga/coniferous forest)

Found in high northern latitude. Ex. Canada and Russia. There are many evergreen trees that can survive cold winters and short growing seasons. They only release a fraction of their needles per year. Other trees shed their leaves before the frigid temperatures damage them. Animals include brown bears, beavers and wolverines. These animals also have thick fur coats that allow them to survive during the winter. They also perform hibernation. A major threat to the biome is infertile soil and mining. Deforestation and forest fires

Temperate Rainforest

Found in mid-latitudes, usually around the west coast of North America. (California to Alaska and Chile). Temperate Rainforests contain massive redwoods that live thousands of years. Underneath the redwoods, ferns and mosses grow rapidly. This is because they grow well in infertile soil. Black-tailed deer, Pacific giant salamander and the Pacific treefrog are common animals in the biome. The Temperate Rainforests struggle from nutrient lacking soil. Deforestation and forest fires

Tundra

Found in the northernmost regions in the Northern Hemisphere such as Russia and Canada. Arctic tundras are found near the Arctic Circle. Small woody shrubs and lichens are found in Tundus due to their ability to survive during short growing seasons, and frigid winters. Animals include polar bears and Arctic Foxes. Their warm fur allows them to keep warm. The Tundra is in high threat of rising temperatures that melt permafrost. This causes flowers to bloom in Antarctica, and the release of methane. Oil drilling

Intertidal Zones

Intertidal zones are narrow areas near a coastline that exists between low and high tide. Organisms include barnacles, algae, mussels and crabs. These organisms adapted to their biome by being resistant to tough waves and high temperatures. A major threat to Intertidal zones is trash.

Lakes and Ponds

Lakes and ponds are found in every continent, and in most biomes. Plants include algae, cattail and water thymes. These plants have adapted by living in shallow areas to perform photosynthesis. Animals include fish, frogs and ducks. A major threat to this biome is toxic chemicals in the water.

Abiotic

Non-living

Open Ocean

Open oceans are found in all oceans with nothing really surrounding them besides water. The open ocean is incredibly deep. Animals include fish, jellyfish, squid, sharks and whales. Plants include algae and seaweed. Animals have adapted to the open ocean by creating their own energy and light to see in deep dark waters. This process is called chemosynthesis.

Salt Marshes

Salt Marshes are found off of the coast of temperate climates. Animals include shellfish and spawning fish. Salt marshes allow the animals to thrive. Plants include algae, bald cypress trees and saltgrass. A major threat to this biome is human development over the marshes.

Tropical Grassland (Savanna)

Savannas are found in Central America, the Atlantic coast of South America, sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. Plants include grasses, shrubs and scattered trees. Plants have adapted to this biome by dropping their leaves during the dry season to survive. They regrow their leaves during the wet season. Animals include zebras, lions and cheetahs. Adaptation for animals includes grazing and migrating. Poaching, Agriculture and wildfires.

Streams and Rivers

Streams and The desert are found in the Mojave desert, Sahara in Africa and the Arabian desert in the Middle East. plants include cacti and euphorbs that are adapted by storing water to perform photosynthesis. Plants often have little to no leaves. Animals include the meerkat, bats and the ringtail. These animals adapted so they can survive with little water. Major threats to this biome include climate change. Suburbia and oil drilling. rivers are located near a larger body of water. These can also be from melting snow and runoff. There are few autotrophs in streams, so they rely on fallen leaves from trees. Animals include crayfish, insect larvae and other fish. Rapids allow oxygen to reach fish. Major threats include pollutants and chemicals entering the rivers.

Freshwater Wetlands

Swamps, marshes such as the Great Dismal Swamp and the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. A Plant adaptation is that swamps collect large amounts of rainfall and slowly release it into soil and streams. Plants include the royal fern, duckweed and water lilly. Animals include alligators, capybara and the American beaver. A major threat to this biome is draining for agriculture.

Temperate Grassland (prairies/steppes)

Temperate Grasslands are found in the Great Plains, and the steppes in Europe. Plants include grasses and non woody flowering plants. The plants are adapted to wildfires by frequent grazing by animals, and their deep roots allow them to store plenty of nutrients for regrowth. Animals include fleas, bison and deer mice. A major threat to this biome is wildfires. Agraculture, excessive use of water.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

Temperate Seasonal Forests are found in the eastern areas of the US, China, Europe, Chile, and eastern Australia. Common plants include maple trees, oak, hickory and breech. The warm summers cause rapid decomposition, which causes the soil to be fertile. Common animal species include white-tailed deer, red foxes and gray squirrels. Many animals perform migration to survive. One threat to the biome is air pollution. Deforestation and forest fires

Woodland (shrubland)

The Woodland is found in southern California, southern South America, Africa, and southwestern Australia. The biome struggles from fires and droughts, so plants quickly regrow after a fire. They also produce seeds that are fertile in extreme heat. Some plants include shrubs, yucca, scrub oak and sagebrush. Animals include California quail, black tailed jackrabbits and the kit fox. Animals have adapted to the Woodland by being able to digest grasses and shrubs. A major threat to this biome is fires that are caused by humans.

Water cycle

The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back

Desert

The desert is found in the Mojave desert, Sahara in Africa and the Arabian desert in the Middle East. plants include cacti and euphorbs that are adapted by storing water to perform photosynthesis. Plants often have little to no leaves. Animals include the meerkat, bats and the ringtail. These animals adapted so they can survive with little water. Major threats to this biome include climate change. Suburbia and oil drilling.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.

Phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.

Sulfur cycle

The movement of sulfur around the biosphere

Carbon cycle

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again by photosynthesis, respiration. CO2 dissolves in water

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds. Organisms create energy by glucose+oxygen=carbon dioxide+water=ATP

Photosynthesis

The process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. Creates oxygen

Ecological Efficiency

The proportion of consumed energy that can be passed on from one trophic level to another.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture by photosynthesis over a given amount of time.

Nitrogen cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere.

Identify the most productive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Tropical Rainforests and Tropical seasonal rainforests are the most productive terrestrial ecosystems because they have the greatest NPP. Swamps and marshes are the most productive aquatic ecosystems because they have the greatest NPP.

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rainforests are found in Central and South America, Africa, southeast Asia and northeastern Australia. Plants include vines, orchids, cacao, Rubber tree and Kapok tree. Plants have adapted to this biome by buttress roots, which are thick and strong roots that support a large tree. Animals include jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and orangutans. Animals have adapted to this biome by camouflage and mimicking. A major threat to this biome is deforestation.

Food web

a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

Negative effects of water cycle

acid rain from burning fossil fuels, sewage contamination.

climate

average temperature and precipitation annualluy

Tertiary Consumers

carnivores that eat secondary consumers

trophic levels

levels of nourishment in a food chain. Looses 10% of energy as you move up. The Sun is the original source of energy

Biotic

living things

Decomposer

organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter. Found at every level of the food chain/web

Heterotroph

organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer

Apex preditor

predator at the top of the food chain

Chemosynthesis

process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates. Used in deep sea animals.

trophic pyramid

the representation of the distribution of biomass among trophic levels.

Climo graph

to show trends in temperature and precipitation