Science Unit A Exam Study Guide

10/26/2010 7:20:00 PM

Test on Thursday, October 28, 2010 ECOSYSTEM An ecosystem is any place that has abiotic and biotic factors interacting with each other. BIOTIC Biotic factors are living organisms. ABIOTIC Abiotic factors are non-living organisms. SPECIES Living things of the same kind that are able to reproduce and their young can reproduce.

POPULATION When there is more than one organism of a species living together at the same time. COMMUNITY When different species live together and interact in one place. 5 Basic Needs of ALL Living Things: 1. Water 2. Food 3. Suitable Living Conditions 4. Oxygen 5. Energy SYMBIOSIS When living things living closely together is called symbiosis (symbiotic relationships).

1. Commensalism This is a relationship in which one species in the relationships benefits and the other species is not benefited or harmed. 2. 3. Mutualism - This is a relationship in Parasitism This is a relationship in which both species in the relationship benefit. which one species in the relationship benefits while the other species is harmed. ADAPTATION Is how organisms respond to their environment. CONSUMER Is an organism that has to seek or kill other living things for food. 1. Carnivores = are animals that eat other animals.

2. 3.

Herbivores = are animals that eat Omnivores = are animals that eat both

producers only for food. other animals and plants. PRODUCER Is an organism that uses sunlight energy to make its own food. PHOTOSYNTHESIS Is the process which plants use light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to make their food. Plants need 2 raw materials to make their own food: Water and Carbon Dioxide Equation: Light Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water

= Food (sugar or glucose) + Oxygen

Photosynthesis is important because the sugar or glucose can be used by us and other animals. Also, photosynthesis provides oxygen so we can breathe. CELLUAR RESPIRATION Is the process responsible for this release of energy. It occurs within the cells of all living things. It combines food and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy. Animals and plants under go the process of celluar respiration. Equation: Food (sugar or glucose) + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy FOOD CHAIN & FOOD WEBS

It is like a sentence showing energy being transferred from one thing to another as it is being eaten. The arrows show the flow of energy. Food webs are many food chains linked together into one thing. Food webs are more better than food chains because they show more possibilities of an organism being linked or interacting with other living things. MATTER We are all made up of matter. The arrow that goes all around in a circle is showing that matter gets recycled. Decomposers break down the dead waste and the smaller particles of matter (nutrients) are now going to be used by other plants. WATER CYCLE

Because of the heat from the sun water evaporates from a liquid to a water vapour from water bodies. Factories, people and animals (when inhale, exhale, and perspire), and plants may give off water vapour as well into the atmosphere. Then the water vapour condenses into clouds. When the clouds get heavy enough the vapour will return to the Earth as precipitation such as rain, sleet, snow or hail. CARBON CYCLE People and animals give off carbon dioxide through celluar respiration. Then the plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water. Photosynthesis then makes these substances into sugar and oxygen. Factories and vehicles add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Decomposers add other forms of carbon to the soil and water. CHLOROPHYLL A substance in plants that absorbs light energy from the sun. SCAVENGER Consumers that feed off the remains of living things that are killed by other consumers. ENERGY USAGE 10% of the total energy in an organism is passed onto another organism after it has been comsumed. The other 90% is given off as heat. BIOINVASION

Is the accidental of planned introduction of a non-native species into a ecosystem. COMPETITION When more than one organism tries to reach for the same goal. PREDATION Is when another animal kills and eats another animal for food to survive. WEATHER Weather may affect an ecosystem. Two examples would be: a)Poor weather might inhibit growth of plants. b)natural disasters can kill/damage plants and animals in a community. PIONEER SPECIES

Are a species that enters a community that has no growth until this species comes. In succession the first pioneer species that usually arrives is the lichen. The lichen would break down the rocks into soil so other species can come. SUCCESSION The predictable pattern of change in ecosystems is called succession. Primary Succession: An area that has been destroyed and has no growth due to the lack of soil (e.g. volcanic islands) Secondary Succession: A community that had been destroyed or disturbed by natural occurrences of human

activities. There is no growth here (e.g. farmers field).