PBIO 1000 - EXAM 1 (WEEKS 1-3) QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Define biosphere. - Answers - The total area on earth (air, land, or water) where living
things are found. The sum total of all its ecosystems
Define biome. - Answers - A portion of the biosphere characterized by a distinct climate
and a particular assemblage of plants and animals adapted to it.
Define ecosystem. - Answers - A specific portion of a biome consisting of the living
(biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) environmental components that interact. It could be a
single, simple tidepool or the entire Mojave Desert.
Define community. - Answers - All the populations (plants, animal, and other species)
living and interacting in an area. They represent the "living" part of the ecosystem.
Define population. - Answers - A group of individuals of the same species living and
interacting in the same region.
What is the hierarchical organization of classifications? - Answers - Largest/most
inclusive to smallest/most exclusive:
1. Biosphere
2. Biome
3. Ecosystem
4. Community
5. Population
6. Individual
Distinguish between habitat and niche. - Answers - Habitat - The physical enviroment in
which individuals of a particular species can be found.
Niche - The role a species plays in its community, including how it gets its energy and
nutrients, its habitat requirements, and what other species and parts of the ecosystem it
interacts with.
Distinguish between the movement of energy and matter in ecosystems. - Answers -
Matter cycles and energy flows.
Name the three broad categories of biomes. - Answers - Terrestrial, marine, and
freshwater.
Explain the relationship between our Biosphere and Biosphere 2. - Answers - - The
species in Biosphere 2 came from our biosphere
- Our biosphere pumped oxygen Biosphere 2
, - Invasive "crazy ants" not intentionally placed in Biosphere 2 came from our biosphere
Evaluate how well the Biosphere 2 experiment met its goals, using at least 1 example
that supports your response. - Answers - Goals of Biosphere 2:
1. Survive for 2 years within a self-contained ecosystem that could someday be used to
colonize other planets
- They lasted 2 years, but required outside help after 9 months when they had to pump
in oxygen and had to paint over the concrete
- Other planets have yet to be colonized using Biosphere 2
2. Learn about environmental processes on Earth.
- Environmental processes were studied, like invasive species and the oxygen and
carbon dioxide found in soil
Define biodiversity, naming the 3 levels, and explain why it should be protected. -
Answers - Definition: Of a region, the genetic diversity within its species, variety of
species, and variety of ecosystems.
3 Levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity
Why it should be protected: It in an investment in our future. Some plant uses include:
produce oxygen, are food, remove carbon dioxide, decompose and detoxify, serve as
medicines, and protect & improve crops.
Briefly describe the types of evidence used to understand the ancient history of Easter
Island and its statues. - Answers - - Excavated sediments from the bottom of the
island's lakes were drilled from cores deep in the mud. Ancient grains of pollen
preserved there were examined
- Ancient palm nut casings were found in caves and crevices
- Carbon-lined channels in the soil
Evaluate whether Easter Island's history holds lessons for us and what those might be. -
Answers - We can learn from Easter Island and act wisely to conserve our resources.
Evaluate the causes and consequences of deforestation. - Answers - Causes: making
room for farms & pastures, harvesting timber for construction & fuel, building roads &
urban areas, logging, accidental fires. Poverty causes people to need to deforest.
Positive impacts: increases economic development, increases infrastructure, decreases
cost of land, labor, and fuel
Negative consequences: makes land more fire-prone, reduces biodiversity, reduces
likelihood of finding medicines, gene pool diminishes, loss of food sources, social
conflict increases, climate change
Explain the contribution of tropical forests to biodiversity in the Biosphere. - Answers -
The organic material and nutrients in a tropical rainforest are found in the vegetation
itself.
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Define biosphere. - Answers - The total area on earth (air, land, or water) where living
things are found. The sum total of all its ecosystems
Define biome. - Answers - A portion of the biosphere characterized by a distinct climate
and a particular assemblage of plants and animals adapted to it.
Define ecosystem. - Answers - A specific portion of a biome consisting of the living
(biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) environmental components that interact. It could be a
single, simple tidepool or the entire Mojave Desert.
Define community. - Answers - All the populations (plants, animal, and other species)
living and interacting in an area. They represent the "living" part of the ecosystem.
Define population. - Answers - A group of individuals of the same species living and
interacting in the same region.
What is the hierarchical organization of classifications? - Answers - Largest/most
inclusive to smallest/most exclusive:
1. Biosphere
2. Biome
3. Ecosystem
4. Community
5. Population
6. Individual
Distinguish between habitat and niche. - Answers - Habitat - The physical enviroment in
which individuals of a particular species can be found.
Niche - The role a species plays in its community, including how it gets its energy and
nutrients, its habitat requirements, and what other species and parts of the ecosystem it
interacts with.
Distinguish between the movement of energy and matter in ecosystems. - Answers -
Matter cycles and energy flows.
Name the three broad categories of biomes. - Answers - Terrestrial, marine, and
freshwater.
Explain the relationship between our Biosphere and Biosphere 2. - Answers - - The
species in Biosphere 2 came from our biosphere
- Our biosphere pumped oxygen Biosphere 2
, - Invasive "crazy ants" not intentionally placed in Biosphere 2 came from our biosphere
Evaluate how well the Biosphere 2 experiment met its goals, using at least 1 example
that supports your response. - Answers - Goals of Biosphere 2:
1. Survive for 2 years within a self-contained ecosystem that could someday be used to
colonize other planets
- They lasted 2 years, but required outside help after 9 months when they had to pump
in oxygen and had to paint over the concrete
- Other planets have yet to be colonized using Biosphere 2
2. Learn about environmental processes on Earth.
- Environmental processes were studied, like invasive species and the oxygen and
carbon dioxide found in soil
Define biodiversity, naming the 3 levels, and explain why it should be protected. -
Answers - Definition: Of a region, the genetic diversity within its species, variety of
species, and variety of ecosystems.
3 Levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity
Why it should be protected: It in an investment in our future. Some plant uses include:
produce oxygen, are food, remove carbon dioxide, decompose and detoxify, serve as
medicines, and protect & improve crops.
Briefly describe the types of evidence used to understand the ancient history of Easter
Island and its statues. - Answers - - Excavated sediments from the bottom of the
island's lakes were drilled from cores deep in the mud. Ancient grains of pollen
preserved there were examined
- Ancient palm nut casings were found in caves and crevices
- Carbon-lined channels in the soil
Evaluate whether Easter Island's history holds lessons for us and what those might be. -
Answers - We can learn from Easter Island and act wisely to conserve our resources.
Evaluate the causes and consequences of deforestation. - Answers - Causes: making
room for farms & pastures, harvesting timber for construction & fuel, building roads &
urban areas, logging, accidental fires. Poverty causes people to need to deforest.
Positive impacts: increases economic development, increases infrastructure, decreases
cost of land, labor, and fuel
Negative consequences: makes land more fire-prone, reduces biodiversity, reduces
likelihood of finding medicines, gene pool diminishes, loss of food sources, social
conflict increases, climate change
Explain the contribution of tropical forests to biodiversity in the Biosphere. - Answers -
The organic material and nutrients in a tropical rainforest are found in the vegetation
itself.
