1. Describe the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. What is the cause of this phenomenon?
2. What is a system? Recognize the examples given in lecture.
3. Describe a negative feedback loop and a positive feedback loop. Give an example of each.
4. Know the terms: eutrophication phytoplankton hypoxia/hypoxic
5. How has eutrophication changed the ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico? What species have increased or decreased?
6. Know which elements are symbolized by C H O N P K. You should also know CO2, O2, H2O, N2
7. What does pH measure? Understand acidic, neutral, basic.
8. What is an organic compound? What are hydrocarbons?
9. Living cells need a source of ______________ to stay alive. 10. What is the significance of the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics for living cells and ecosystems?
11. What is the source of energy that sustains most of the life on earth? 12. What process captures that energy? 13. Know the simplified equation for photosynthesis.
14. What is cellular respiration? Why do we need O2 for respiration?
15. Know autotroph, heterotroph, which organisms are which.
16. What is an ecosystem?
17. What is ecosystem productivity or NPP?
18. What environmental conditions contribute to high NPP? low NPP?
19. List the 3 ecosystems with the highest and lowest NPP.
20. 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?
21. 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?
22. 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?
23. 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?
|
|
|