1. Describe a negative feedback loop and a positive feedback loop. Give an example of each.

2. Know which elements are symbolized by C H O N P K.

    (You should also know  CO₂, O₂, H₂O, N₂  )

 Why are N, P, and K particularly important?

3. What does pH measure?  

Understand acidic, neutral, basic.

4. What is an organic compound?     What are hydrocarbons?

5. Living cells need a source of ______________ to stay alive.

6. What is the source of energy that sustains most of the life on earth?

7. What process captures that energy?

8. Know the simplified equation for photosynthesis.

9. What is cellular respiration?  Why do we need O₂ for respiration?

10. Know autotroph, heterotroph, which organisms are which.

11. What is an ecosystem?

12. What is ecosystem net primary production or NPP?

13. What environmental conditions contribute to high NPP?     low NPP?

14. List the 3 ecosystems with the highest NPP:

 the 3 with the lowest NPP:

15. With respect to biogeochemical cycles, what do the terms pool, source, and sink mean?

16. Carbon Cycle:  What are the major processes that drive the natural cycle?

    Where is carbon present in large amounts?

    What human activities (3) alter the carbon cycle?

    What is the result and what is the expected impact?

17. Phosphorus cycle: Where is phosphorus normally present? Is it usually abundant or scarce in natural systems?

    What processes drive the natural phosphorus cycle?

    How do humans alter the cycle and what are the impacts?

18. Nitrogen Cycle: What are the major processes that control the nitrogen cycle under natural conditions?

    What human activities have altered the nitrogen cycle?

    What are the impacts on ecosystems?

19. Water cycle or hydrologic cycle:  What are the major processes? evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation

    Know the terms:  runoff, surface water, watershed

    infiltration, ground water, water table, aquifer, recharge area

    What human activities alter the natural cycle, and what are the impacts?

20. Describe the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.  What is the cause of this phenomenon?

 21. Know the terms:

    eutrophication

    phytoplankton

    hypoxia/hypoxic

 22. How has eutrophication changed the ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico? What species have increased or decreased?