Atlas of Ecology

“Scavenger Hunt”

  1. From the diagram name the organisms that represent each of the following trophic levels:

Producers ______

Herbivores______

Carnivores ______

Decomposers______

  1. In each trophic level only about ______% of the energy stored in the lower level is used.
  1. When energy is “lost”, where does it go? ______
  1. Name the gas that makes up the highest percentage of Earth’s atmosphere. ______
  1. The soil horizons are identified as _____, _____, and _____.
  1. From the diagram, CO2 is taken in by ______and is passed to the giraffe in the form of ______. CO2 is then returned to the atmosphere via ______.
  1. How are humans modifying the balance of the carbon cycle?

______

  1. What microorganisms drive the steps (nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification) of the nitrogen cycle? ______
  1. Phosphorus is an element found accumulated in ______form.
  1. What makes up the biomass of the CanadianForest shown in the picture?

______

  1. Can biomass be measured precisely? YES or NO
  1. Name an example of an ecosystem with low productivity(______) and one with high productivity(______)
  1. What starts the process of succession in the picture? ______
  1. Bacteria that extract energy from inorganic molecules (such as those found in deep sea vents) are called ______.
  2. In the food web, the arrows show the direction of ______flow.
  1. Which organisms typically have the MOST biomass in an ecosystem? ______Which organisms typically have the LEAST biomass? ______
  1. Name an example of a resource that plants compete for. ______
  2. From the graph, which population begins to decline first? ______
  1. Which country has more individuals in the lower age classes? ______

Is this population: AGED (declining) or EXPANDING?

  1. A cyclical change in the number of individuals in a population over a certain period of time is called a ______.
  1. What is the climax community for the tundra? ______
  1. What is “a guarantee for the life of our planet”? ______
  1. Name one monoculture crop. ______
  1. The photic zone in the sea is where ______can penetrate.
  1. Organisms that live on the bottom of the sea are called______.
  1. In which part of a river would there be the most dissolved oxygen (turbulent, cold water) ______
  1. How large is the AmazonRain Forest? ______
  1. Grasslands can be called ______, ______, ______or ______depending on where in the world they are located.
  1. In the tundra, the part of the soil that remains frozen all year is called the ______.
  1. The area just above the tree-line as you ascend a mountain is called ______
  1. Materials that can be degraded naturally are called ______.
  1. A synonym for toxin is ______.
  1. Name 2 products that cause eutrophication. ______
  1. Name an exotic species that caused harm to marsupials in Australia. ______
  1. What is the purpose of a field guide? ______
  1. Repetitive patterns in ecology make it possible to study the same parameters time and again and to make predictions and ______of how ecosystems will function.
  1. Which organisms are likely to have the highest concentration of pesticides in their tissues? ______
  2. What natural predator can be used to control aphids on crop plants? ______
  1. Changing the type of crop in each season so that conditions are never right for pests is called ______.
  1. List the main emissions produced by gasolines and diesel fuel:

i)iv)

ii)v)

iii)

  1. How do dams affect populations of fish?______

______

  1. Why is salinization a problem for agriculture? ______
  1. Why are heavy metals incorporated into the bodies of coastal mollusks?

______

  1. Name one consequence of thermal pollution. ______
  1. Water that is suitable for drinking is called ______water.
  1. The process that uses millions of microorganisms to remove organic matter from wastewater is called ______.
  1. Name the highest causative agent for the air pollutants NOx, Particulates, and CO2. ______
  1. Name the highest causative agent for the air pollutant SOx. ______
  1. Use the diagram to explain the function of a catalytic converter. ______

______

  1. Name the 2 air pollutants responsible for acid precipitation. ______& ______
  1. Is CO2 really a pollutant? YES or NO
  1. During a ______, a stable mass of cold air settles in a city and forms a thermal barrier, preventing the escape of air pollutants.
  1. In 1987, the ______was signed, committing all nations to reduce emissions of ______.
  1. Circle the fossil fuel that is LEAST polluting: COAL OIL NATURAL GAS
  1. Name the 5 main causes of deforestation in Brazil:

i)iv)

ii)v)

iii)

  1. Deforestation decreases nature’s ability to absorb excess ______.
  1. Nuclear power plants use nuclear ______to produce electricity.
  1. What is the main environmental problem with using nuclear power for energy?

______

61.Is the greenhouse effect GOOD or BAD ?

  1. CO2 and other greenhouse gases such as ______, ______, and ______alter the balance of nature and cause an increase in the greenhouse effect.
  1. Where is the ozone “hole”? ______
  1. The estimate of the resources that can be extracted with current technology are ______.
  1. How long did it take nature to produce and store the fossil fuels that we currently use in one year? ______
  1. If we could exploit just ______of the solar energy that reaches earth in one year, we would have the same amount of energy as in all the fossil fuel reserves.
  1. Name a small device that is currently powered by photovoltaic cells. ______
  1. What types of material are used to produce biodiesel? ______
  1. Burning wood is an example of using ______for fuel.
  1. A hydroelectric dam utilizes water to drive a series of ______to generate electricity.
  1. Name one environmental problem associated with hydroelectric dams.

______

  1. One-fifth of the world’s population uses ______of the planet’s energy.
  1. What are the end products of recycling organic waste? ______What are the advantages? ______
  1. Which material on the list can NOT be recycled? ______
  1. Name 4 products that can be generated by recycling an automobile:

i)iii)

ii)iv)

  1. What is the main factor in determining soil fertility? ______
  1. Name one agricultural method that may be used to reduce erosion.

______

  1. A process by which fertile ground becomes sterile and incapable of sustaining plant life is called ______.
  1. Name some surface fish that are currently being overfished:

______

  1. Turtles, dolphins, and ocean birds may get caught in ______.
  1. Name 4 mineral resources found in the sea:

i)iii)

ii)iv)

  1. Biodiversity is important because it gives our planet a “reserve of ______”, enabling organisms to ______to change.
  1. Why are mountain gorillas at risk of extinction? ______
  1. How many species become extinct every day? ______
  1. What does WHO stand for? ______
  1. The term for the way of life that allows an individual to survive with minimal resources is ______economy.
  1. What percentage of grain production goes to feeding livestock? ______
  1. Name one thing that a good consumer should consider before purchasing an item: ______
  1. What are the dangers of genetically engineered foods?______
  1. A set of techniques and procedures for raising aquatic organisms is called ______.
  1. What are “protected areas”? ______
  1. What is an “endemic” species? ______

90.What happened in 1994 to protect whales?______

______