Unit D: Changes in Living Systems - Ms. Mogck's Classroom...15. For organisms that live in the...

Unit D:

Changes in

Living Systems

K.Mogck Science 20 2017

www.msmogcksclassroom.com 1

Important Notes



Topic 1: Habitat Matters

Term Definition Example Biotic Factor

Abiotic Factor

Ecosystem

Habitat

Nutrient



Case Study: Planting an Ecosystem on Mars (NASA Release May 6, 2015)

Taming the brutal environment of Mars for future human explorers to survive and thrive there may

demand a touch of “ecopoiesis” – the creation of an ecosystem able to support life.

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program is funding cutting-edge work by Eugene

Boland, chief scientist at Techshot Inc. of Greenville, Indiana. The scientist has been busy

working in the firm’s “Mars room,” which houses a test chamber capable of simulating the Red

Planet’s atmospheric pressure, day-night temperature changes and the solar radiation that

cascades upon the planet’s surface.

Inside the Mars room, Boland and his team are testing the viability of using ecosystem-building

pioneer organisms to churn out oxygen by using Martian regolith. Some organisms within the test

bed experiment planted on the Red Planet also could remove nitrogen from the Martian soil.

“This is a possible way to support a human mission to Mars, producing oxygen without having to

send heavy gas canisters,” Boland saaid. “Let’s send microbes and let them do the heavy-lifting

for us.”

Ultimately, biodomes on Mars that enclose ecopoiesis-provided oxygen through bacterial or algae-

driven conversion systems might dot the Red Planet, housing expeditionary teams, Boland suggests.

But first things first.

Boland and his colleagues envision their test bed gear carried aboard a future Mars rover. At

carefully selected sites, the small container-like devices would be augured into the ground,

planted just a few inches in depth. Then the selected Earth organisms -- extremophiles like

certain cyanobacteria – would interact with the Mars soil that has been captured within the

container.

Yet another possible ingredient extracted from the Martian soil is in the form of subterranean

ice.

Boland says that NASA’s Curiosity rover now wheeling about on Mars has shown the pressure and

temperature on the planet “flirts at the idea” that liquid water may be possible on that distant

world.

In a form of “huff and puff” science, the sensor-laden container would detect the presence or

absence of a metabolic product -- like oxygen -- reporting the find back to Earth via a Mars-

orbiting relay satellite.

Boland adds that great care would be taken to craft the container to seal tightly, thereby

preventing the Earthly organisms from being exposed to the Martian atmosphere.

The NIAC-funded work is dedicated to opening the door to a biological solution to shipping

cylinders of breathable air to Mars at great expense, Boland says. It is another alternative to a

known problem of oxygen consumption for the human explorers NASA plans to send to Mars, he adds.

“I’m a biologist and an engineer. So I want to put those two things together to make a useful

tool,” Boland concludes.



Brainstorm: What would NASA have to consider and implement in order to make Mars Habitable for humans (including diverse populations)

• Think in terms of abiotic / biotic factors o Habitat? o Nutrients? o Populations and relationships? o Food chains and trophic levels

Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors

Atmosphere Water Weather

Sunlight Nutrients

Habitat Soil

Plants

Bacteria

Animals

Decomposers

Abiotic factors support biotic factors



Topic 2: Population Relations and Energy Flow

Term Definition Example Biomass

Ecology

Population

Biological

Community Symbiosis

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Predation

Competition

Producer

Consumer

Primary

Consumer Secondary Consumer

Tertiary Consumer



Herbivore

Carnivore

Omnivore

Scavenger

Decomposer

Trophic Level

Food Chain

Food Web

Exponential

Growth Exponential

Curve (Jcurve) Closed

Population Open Population

Carrying Capacity

S-curve



All organisms are interconnected in a food web Demonstrating relationships

#s decrease as you move up the trophic levels amount of biomass decreases as you move up the trophic levels

Only 10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels. All other energy is lost to heat and waste



Symbiotic Relationship Status Relationship #1: Mosquitos and Humans • Mutualism

• Commensalism

✓ Parasitism

• Competition

• Predation

Definition: One organism derives benefit at the expense of another organism (host) Explanation: Mosquitos live off human blood, humans get itchy bumps

Relationship #2: Wolf and Rabbit • Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Competition

✓ Predation

Definition: One organism kills and eats another organism Explanation: Wolf eats a rabbit



Relationship #3: Remora and Shark • Mutualism

✓ Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Competition

• Predation

Definition: One organism benefits, the other organism is neither helped nor harmed Explanation: Remoras eat the grime off sharks

Relationship #4: Bumble Bee and Flower ✓ Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Competition

• Predation

Definition: Organisms of both species benefit Explanation: Bees use pollen for honey and food, flowers get pollinated by bees



Relationship #5: Lions and Hyenas • Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

✓ Competition

• Predation

Definition: Two or more organisms compete for the same limited resource Explanation: Lions and hyenas eat the same prey, whomever gets to it first eats!



Topic 3: Recycling of Matter

Term Definition Example Algae

Harmful Algal

Bloom Biogeochemical

Cycle Photosynthesis

Cellular

Respiration Carbon Sink

Peat

Ozone

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrifying Bacteria

Nitrification

Denitrifying

Bacteria Denitrification



Water Cycle



Carbon - Oxygen Cycle

Fast cycling O2 and CO2

• Photosynthesis

• Cellular respiration

• Continuously cycling within the ecosystem Slow cycling O2 and CO2

• Carbon sinks = stored carbon o In fossil fuels, trees and peat o Released through combustion and transferred into the fast

cycling Too much carbon in the atmosphere = global warming due to the greenhouse effect



Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Fixation

• Converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonium / ammonia N2 NH4

+

Nitrification

• Converts ammonium / ammonia to nitrates / nitrites in the soil which is used by plants to grow and flourish

• Wildfires and fertilizers also add nitrates to the soil NH4

+ NO2

- / NO3-

Denitrification

• Removes nitrates and returns N2 to the atmosphere



Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus is found in rock and only added to soil through erosion Too much phosphate and nitrates enter the soil and get into ground water = ALGAL BLOOM

• Overgrowth of algae dies and rots, removing oxygen from the water and killing living organisms



Topic 3 Practice Questions

1. Explain the following statement: An effort to enhance the abiotic factors in a farmer’s field may have negative impacts on both the biotic and abiotic factors essential to a nearby aquatic ecosystem.

Too much phosphate and nitrates enter the soil and get into ground water = ALGAL BLOOM

• Overgrowth of algae dies and rots, removing oxygen from the water and killing living organisms

2. Identify 3 abiotic factors that have a major impact on agricultural crops. Describe the importance of these factors to the crop’s growth.

Nitrates – plant health and growth Water – plant and animal life Carbon dioxide – plant photosynthesis Phosphates – growth

3. If approximately 78% of Earth’s atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, explain how there is a shortage of nitrogen in some soils.

Nitrogen is not useful as N2. In order for nitrogen to be useful to plants, it must be as nitrates, nitrites or ammonium and ammonia. Decomposers (bacteria) assist in this process.

4. Explain the advantage of alternating wheat crops with legume crops within the same field

Legumes contain bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium which can then be shared with plants and re-established into the soil.

5. Sewage often contains high concentrations of nitrates that could be harmful if released directly into the environment. Explain the role that denitrifying bacteria could play in sewage treatment plants.

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrite and nitrate back into Nitrogen



6. Explain why plants cannot use the air as a source of nitrogen

Plants can only use nitrogen in the form of nitrates / nitrites and ammonium

7. Explain why many plants thrive in a post-fire habitat

The fire will decrease the acidity of the soil

The fire will return nitrates into the soil by heating atmospheric nitrogen AND combusting plants containing nitrates.

The soil is warmer and therefore seed germination becomes easier and faster

8. Since you cannot obtain the nitrogen you need from breathing, what is your source of nitrogen?

Animals eat plants and meats that contain nitrogen. Specifically, proteins contain large amounts of nitrogen.

9. Identify the key forms in which carbon and oxygen will occur within both the oxygen cycle and carboncycle.

Carbon Dioxide = CO2 and Glucose = C6H12O6

Oxygen gas = O2 and Water = H2O

10. Cellular respiration is said to be an exothermic reaction because energy is released. If photosynthesis is anendothermic reaction because energy is required, identify the source of energy for photosynthesis

All energy originates from the sun.

11. The fossil record suggests life did not colonize land until the atmospheric concentrations of oxygenreached adequate levels. Suggest 2 reasons why it was essential to have the atmospheric oxygenconcentration at adequate levels before life could begin on land.

Organisms require oxygen for cellular respiration

Oxygen is required to react with atmospheric nitrogen to form nitrates which allow plant growth



12. Decomposition, combustion, cellular respiration, volcanic activity and wildfires all have something incommon when it comes to the carbon cycle. Identify the common feature.

Both reactions release carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere and are exothermic reactions (release heat)

13. Prescribed burning is a practice in which forestry personnel deliberately set small, controlled fires (underideal conditions). This strategy attempts to mimic the historical pattern of more frequent, low-intensityburns that are integral parts of the forest ecology. Explain how this practice may actually enhance publicsafety and ensure long-term health of the forest.

Increased nitrates in the soil due to combustion.

The fires get rid of major decomposition and potential dangers

The fires allow carbon sinks (trees) to return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

14. Water is often applied to lawns and gardens to keep plants healthy and green. Why is it more effective towater lawns in the early morning rather than in the middle of the afternoon?

Afternoon is often very warm. This will increase the evaporation of water, meaning the lawn will receive less water and more water is evaporated (wasted).

15. For organisms that live in the forest floor’s soil, identify at least 2 abiotic factors significantly affected bywildfires.

Soot / Ash (Carbon)

Water in soil and air

Carbon dioxide is increased

Nitrates and ammonium are replaced in the soil

Phosphates are returned to the soil



Topic 4: Succession

Term Definition Example Lichen

Endangered Species

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat Destruction

Biodiversity

Invasive Species

Primary Succession

Pioneer Species

Humus

Terraforming

Secondary Succession

Sustainable Development



Topic 4 Practice Problems

1. Why do you think scientists chose the term pioneer species for certain organisms? Whatcharacteristics do these pioneer plant species possess that allow them to be categorized as pioneerspecies?

They are the first to “settle” in an area. They are tough with simple root systems so they don’t need a lot of soil.

2. List the benefits that a pioneer species would experience.

No Competition

Simple structure

3. Describe the process of primary succession

The process of developing bare soil climax community through breaking the soil humus grass trees ☺

4. List 4 examples of disturbances that could cause the process of secondary succession to begin

Fire, Pollution, Disease, Deforestation, Flood

5. Explain two ways in which the process of secondary succession differs prom the process of primarysuccession.

More nutrients available for pioneer species. Faster succession occurs

6. Define carrying capacity

Maximum number of organisms an ecosystem can support



Topic 5: Adaptations

Term Definition Example Generation

Morphology

Gradualism

Punctuated Equilibrium

Gene

Mutation

Variation

Adaptation

Theory of Evolution

Theory of Natural Selection

Darwinian Fitness



The KEY difference between gradualism and punctuated equilibrium is gradual change vs spurts of change followed by long periods of stability.

An important characteristic that helps a snail avoid predators like birds is the ability to blend into its surroundings. Snails can show considerable variation in their band pattern on their shells. Research has determined that the color and pattern of banding on snail shells are traits that are inherited from their parents. How can variation lead to gradualism?

Variation will allow slight changes over time if it is genetically transferred, with survival of the fittest. For example, if green bugs and black bugs are both in trees, green bugs will live to reproduce and the population will gradually become more green. Is it possible variation could also lead to punctuated equilibrium? Explain

Yes. If bighorn sheep are only able to be hunted if they have a full ring horn, the smaller horned sheep will reproduce, causing the population to have smaller horns overall.



An ADAPTATION is any structural trait or behavior that improves an organism’s success at surviving and reproducing in a particular environment.

**This picture shows camel SHADOWS! The small white figures are the actual camels; the black figures are the shadows! This is an award winning National Geographic Picture taking in 2016. **

List and explain physical AND behavioral adaptations of a desert camel

Hump = fat filled sack that can be used in times of lack of water and nutrients Eyelids = double eye lids for protection from blowing sand Feet = broad, flat feet to distribute weight and improve ability to walk on sand Fur = thick fur to stay warm at night and cool in the day




1. Processes that occur over time as a species adapts to its environment are adaptations, mutations and variations.

a. Design a flowchart that shows the order in which these processes occur

b. Concisely explain the flowchart you constructed (in 1 sentence)

Gradualism occurs over time. Punctuated equilibrium is a drastic change followed by periods of no change.

2. What process is responsible for the variation seen in the coloring and banding of snail shells?

Gradualism

3. Explain why it is a useful adaptation for snails to blend with their surroundings?

Protection from predators.

4. Explain how the advantage of being a darker color also becomes a disadvantage in terms of predation for high climbing snails.

As they get higher, the environment gets lighter and therefore they do not blend in as well

5. Is it always clear-cut that a trait is an advantage or disadvantage? Justify your answer using examples.

No, often times traits are both advantageous and disadvantages! (see snail example)

Topic 6: Evolution Theory



Darwin's Theory of

Natural Selection

Lamarck' Theory of

Adaptation

Homologous Structures

Embryo Similarities

Biochemical Evidence

Vestigial Features

Evolution of Behaviour

Biogeography

Based on 3 observations: 1. Organisms usually produce

more offspring than can survive

2. There is variation among individuals with respect to any trait in a population

3. Organisms within a population compete for limited resources

THE BEST ADAPTED INDIVIDUALS IN THE POPULATION WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, BREED AND PASS ON THEIR TRAITS TO OFFSPRING

ORANISMS CHANGE DURING THEIR LIVES TO EET THE CHALLENGES OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THESE CHANGES WILL BE PASSED ON TO OFFSPRING.



https://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/pepperedmoth.html

Life Cycle of the Peppered Moth

1. Why are these moths called "peppered moths?"

They have spots as if they are covered in pepper

2. What animals eat the peppered moth?

Hawks and birds

3. What is a lichen?

Lichen is a pioneer species similar to moss

4. What do the larvae of the moth eat?

Leaves of willow and oak trees

5. How do peppered moths spend the winter?

Change into pupae (cocoons)

6. Moths that have more dark spots than the average moth are called what?

Carbonaria

Impact of Pollution

7. Where was the first black form of the moth found?

Centre of Manchester

8. What was the Industrial Revolution?

Factories being built that ran on coal

9. What was causing the different colors in the moths?

Genetic variation in populations

10. What is natural selection?

The theory that organisms evolve through survival of the fittest

11. Who suggested that peppered moths were an example of natural selection?



https://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/pepperedmoth.html

J.W. Tutt

12. What is industrial melanism?

Moths darkening over time due to pollution in forests causing the trees to become black

Kettlewell's Experiments

13. What is an entomologist?

A scientist who studies insects

14. How do scientists test theories?

Create a hypothesis and test (or find proof) of the theory.

1. Write down ONE of Kettlewell's predictions.

Heavily polluted forests will have mostly dark peppered moths

2. Dark moths were found in what parts of the country?

Industrial cities with pollution

3. How did Kettlewell directly study the moths?

He placed both dark and light colored moths on the trunk of a tree and studied them

4. Why did dark moths have a survival advantage?

They were camouflaged into the tree trunk and pollution, so they were less visible

5. When Kettlewell recaptured the marked moths, what did he find?

If a Moth’s color matched the environment were more likely to survive

6. Where did Kettlewell publish his findings?

1959 Scientific America



Birdseye View

21. Open the simulation and play the role of the bird in both the dark and the light forest. Try to behave as a bird would behave, choosing the moths that are the most obvious. At the end of each simulation, record the percent of moths captured in the table below.

Final Analysis

22. Explain how the color of the moths increases or decreases their chances of survival.

If the color of the moth and the color of the trunk match, the moth is camouflaged and more likely to survive. If the color did not camouflage, the moth was more likely to be eaten.

23. Explain the concept of "natural selection" using your moths as an example.

Based on 3 observations: 1. Organisms usually produce more offspring than can survive 2. There is variation among individuals with respect to any trait in a population 3. Organisms within a population compete for limited resources

THE BEST ADAPTED INDIVIDUALS IN THE POPULATION WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, BREED AND PASS ON THEIR TRAITS TO OFFSPRING

24. What would happen if there were no predators in the forest? Would the colors of the moths change over time? Defend your answer?

The moth population would explode as long as the habitat could handle it. There would be multiple variations and colors of moth present.



Topic 7: Sexual Reproduction

Term Definition Example Sexual

Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

Dominant Allele

Recessive Allele

Homozygous

Heterozygous

What is the benefit of sexual reproduction? Variation in species, allowing for better chances of survival How could sexual reproduction lead to evolution? THE BEST ADAPTED INDIVIDUALS IN THE POPULATION WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, BREED AND PASS ON THEIR TRAITS TO OFFSPRING



Every organism who reproduces sexually receives genetic material from both partners (mother and father). The likelihood of one gene to be demonstrated in the organism depends on the dominance of that specific gene. In order to demonstrate a dominant trait, an organism only requires 1 dominant allele (as it overpowers the weaker allele). In order to demonstrate a recessive trait, an organism must contain 2 recessive alleles (known as homozygous recessive). One of the easiest ways to calculate the mathematical probability of inheriting a specific trait was invented by an early 20th century English geneticist named Reginald Punnett. His technique employs what we now call a Punnett square. This is a simple graphical way of discovering all of the potential combinations of genotypes that can occur in children, given the genotypes of their parents. It also shows us the odds of each of the offspring genotypes occurring.

Dominant Recessive

Eye Color Brown eyes Grey, green, hazel, blue eyes

Vision Far-sightedness Normal Vision

Normal Vision Near-sightedness Night blindness

Hair Dark Hair Non-Red Hair Curly Widow’s peak

Blonde, light, red hair Red hair Straight hair Normal Hairline

Facial Features Dimples Unattached Earlobes Freckles Broad Lips

No dimples Attached earlobes No freckles Thin lips

Appendages Extra digits Fused digits Short digits Fingers lack 1 joint Limb dwarfing Clubbed thumb Double jointed-ness

Normal number Normal digits Normal digits Normal joints Normal proportion Normal thumb Normal joints

Other Immunity to poison ivy Normal pigmented skin Normal hearing Normal hearing and speak

Susceptibility to poison ivy Albinism Congenital deafness Deaf mutism

Example: Determine the % probability that a mother with blue eyes and a father with heterozygous brown eyes have a blue eyed child.

b b B Bb - brown Bb - brown

b bb - blue bb- blue

2/4 chances of having blue eyes 50% chance



http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/glossary.htm#genotype


1. Using Darwin’s theory of natural selection, explain how giraffes acquired long necks. Over time, the giraffes with longer necks were able to reach more food, thus surviving to reproduce. These longer necks were passed on to offspring, where the shorter necked giraffes died and were not able to reproduce.

2. A body builder spends a lot of time at the gym lifting weights to acquire a muscular body. He is convinced that this behavior will cause him to have muscular children. Is his opinion consistent with Darwin or Lamarck’s theory?

Lamarck believed an organism changes and passes these traits on… it’s not true ☺

3. Certain dog breed have their tails cut short at birth. What would Lamarck predict would happen to this breed’s tails after several generations?

Over time, dogs would stop producing long tails, as their “chopped” tails would be passed on to their offspring.

4. There are several First Nations legends that tell the story of how the beaver once had a round and fluffy tail, but acquired a flat tail by having a rock or tree fall onto it. Is this explanation more like Lamarck or Darwin?

Very similar to Lamarck

5. A common variety of banana reproduces by cloning rather than by sexual reproduction – tiny seed in the banana are sterile. A disease has been infecting banana trees and has destroyed many populations. Why would banana growers be more concerned about the future of this popular banana variety than they would about other types of fruit that experience the disease?

Because they reproduce asexually, there is no variation among banana organisms, and thus they would all be susceptible to this disease.

6. A father who is homozygous for freckles has a child with a mother with no freckles. Determine the percent likelihood that their children will have freckles.

f f F Ff - freckles Ff - freckles

F Ff – freckles Ff – freckles

4/4 chances of having freckles 100% chance



Unit Review

1. Complete the following chart. Adaptation How It Makes Organisms More

Successful Example of Organism with

Adaptation

Speed

Easier to catch prey and escape predators

Cheetah or pronghorn

Camouflage

Easier to hide from predators Chameleon

Bright Colors

More attractive to mates Peacock

Sharp Spines

Dangerous to predators Porcupine

Produces Poison

Easier to catch prey and escape predators

Snake / Spider

Thick Fur or Hair

Stays warm / cool in habitat Llama

Horns or Antlers

Easier to compete with other males (for reproduction)

Safe from predators

Big horn sheep

Deer

2. Close to where you live, a strip mine was started 100 years ago. The miners removed all the soil and

exposed the raw bedrock as they removed the mineral ore. The soil and much of the broken rock were trucked away to be used for construction material. The miners worked progressively outward from a central point over a period of 50 years.

a. What type of organisms would you expect to find at the centre, oldest part of the mine?

Early organisms like bacteria and small organisms who do not require sunlight

b. What type of organisms would you expect to find at the outer edges, youngest part of the mine? Variety of organisms, diverse and advanced

c. What type of organisms would you find in the surrounding area that was not mined? Variety of organisms, diverse and advanced



3. A camel is an example of an organisms that is perfectly adapted for the desert. How do the following camel adaptations help it to survive in the desert environment? Complete the table below.

Adaptation Reason for Advantage

2 sets of long eyelashes

Protect from sun and blowing sand

Wide, padded feet

Stay on top of sand without sinking

Nostrils that can open and close

Protect from blowing sand

A hump on its back that is a reservoir

for fat

In times of drought and famine, camels can use their stores for

nutrients

Thick, tan colored fur

Protection from strong sun and winds. Camouflage into sand

A tough mouth and strong teeth

To break down desert plants they eat

4. Hypothesize why so many plants that first colonize in open areas of secondary succession might have

sharp thorns, barbs, or noxious taste To protect from animals that are looking for easy eating (as there is not many plants present)

5. A biologist is studying the habitat of a small, isolated Artic island. The island has populations of carnivorous Artic foxes, a herbivorous bird called a ptarmigan and a few insects in the summer. The only vegetation that grows well are small shrubs, lichens and grasses. a. List the abiotic factors that may affect survival on the island

Water availability, poor soil, cold climate

b. List the island’s biotic factors Animal and plant populations

c. Describe a relationship that may exist on the island Predator Prey – Fox and Ptarmigan



d. Sketch a likely food chain for the island

e. Sketch a likely energy pyramid for the island

f. Suppose hunters kill Artic foxes to the point of extinction, how would this affect the population of remaining island species?

Ptarmigan would likely flourish, leading to depleted plant populations.

6. Mosquitoes can be so annoying that it’s tempting to wish they could somehow be completely eliminated from the environment. Comment on the possible negative consequences of removing mosquitoes from the biosphere.

Removing mosquitoes would remove a food source for organisms like birds and bats. This would deplete the availability of nutrients, and cause these organisms to potentially die. This could lead to a decrease in organisms at the next trophic level, as less biomass and thus energy is available.



Unit D: Changes in Living Systems - Ms. Mogck's Classroom...15. For organisms that live in the...

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