Exam Week Part 3d - The Biosphere

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A. Ecosystems: The Biosphere, Relationships, and Human Impact (Geosystems Chapter 19 & 21)

1. Define: Biosphere, Ecology, and Ecosystem.
2. Define and provide examples of the following vocabulary: habitat; biotic and abiotic ecosystem components, autotrophs (producer), heterotrophs (consumer), photosynthesis, decomposers, herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore
3. Define: food chain, food web and bioaccumulation (biomagnifications)
4. Define: Succession, Primary Succession, Secondary Succession, and Eutrophication
5. Understand how negative feedback promotes homeostasis (ecosystem stability) and how positive feedback promotes change.
6. Describe the processes of Biogeochemical or Nutrient Cycling: Nitrogen; Carbon; and Oxygen
7. Compare and contrast the human concepts of: Preservation, Conservation, and Exploitation
8. Summarize the major causes of plant and animal extinction and understand the importance of preserving plant and animal habitats.
9. Discuss the implications of the disappearance of plant and animal species.

B. Ecosystems: Biomes (Geosystems Chapter 20)

1. Define: Biome.
2. Suggest how vegetation is influenced by other elements of the physical environment.
3. On a world map locate, as well as define the characteristic climate and vegetation of: Forests: Equatorial Rainforest; Subtropical/Monsoon Forest; Mediterranean Woodland (Maquis, Chaparral, Schlerophyll); Temperate Deciduous Forest; Coniferous Forest (Taiga, Boreal); Temperate Rain Forest Grasslands: Tropical Grassland (Savanna); and Temperate Grassland or Prairies (Steppes) Deserts : Xerophytic vegetation Tundra
4. Identify the major terrestrial biomes, and special cases: Tundra – Polar; Boreal / Coniferous Forest / Taiga; Temperate Rain Forest - British Columbia; Temperate Deciduous Forest - Broadleaf Evergreen Forest; Temperate Grassland / Prairie / Steppe - Semi-arid Scrub; Mediterranean / Chaparral/ Schlerophyll – Monsoon; Desert; Tropical Grassland /Savanna / Veldt; Tropical Rain Forest; Complex Highland vegetation - Tropics: Valley to Mountain
5. Compare global distributions of, and relationships among; climate, soil, and vegetation.
   By example, explain how, where, and why people have modified the distribution and types of plants — and the effects of these changes.

C. Soils (Geosystems Chapter 18)

1. What ecological and economic importance is soil?
2. Describe the composition of soil in terms of: regolith and humus; also water, gases, and animals.
3. Discuss the following factors of soil formation: capillary movement (salinization); leaching; humus (composting); translocation
4. Understand a sketch of the layers in a generic soil profile (O, A, B, E, and C Horizons).
5. Define and describe the associated climate and vegetation (including climograph) for each of the following Zonal soil types: Tundra; Podsol; Luvisol (grey wooded soils); Brunisols (grey-brown soils); Chernozems (black soils) - Prairie, Chestnut; Seirozems (desert soils); and Latasols (red earths)
6. How do we increase the productivity of soils? What is soil exhaustion? What is soil toxicity?
7. Discuss the costs and benefits of agricultural fertilizers.
8. How are we conserving our soils?
9. Discuss how soils are being depleted around the world.
10. How do we stop soil erosion by water and by wind?
11. Differentiate human and natural occurring factors that may promote desertification.