4.1 Climate

Understand Key Concepts

1. An increase in the greenhouse effect causes an increase in

   1. carbon dioxide.

   2. temperature.

   3. oxygen.

   4. water.

2. A small valley where the average temperature is usually higher than that of the surrounding countryside has its own

   1. weather.

   2. climate.

   3. rainfall.

   4. microclimate.

3. Distinguish between weather and climate.

4. Describe the three primary abiotic factors that produce Earth's major climate zones.

Think Critically

5. Apply Concepts Based on the relative positions of the sun and Earth, explain why Earth has climate zones and seasons.

6. Infer A plant grower has a greenhouse where she grows plants in the winter. The greenhouse is exposed to direct sunlight and often gets too hot for the plants. She paints the inside of the glass with a chalky white paint, and the temperature drops to comfortable levels. Explain why this procedure works.

4.2 Niches and Community Interactions

Understand Key Concepts

7. A relationship in which one organism is helped and another organism is neither helped nor hurt is called

   1. parasitism.

   2. mutualism.

   3. competition.

   4. commensalism.

8. The relationship between a tick and its host is an example of

   

   1. mutualism.

   2. parasitism.

   3. commensalism.

   4. succession.

9. What is the difference between an organism's habitat and its niche?

10. What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Think Critically

11. Compare and Contrast How are predation and parasitism similar? How are they different?

12. Infer Competition for resources in an area is usually more intense within a single species than between two different species. How would you explain this observation?

13. Apply Concepts Write a description of your niche in the environment. Include details about your ecosystem, and the biotic and abiotic factors around you. Be sure to describe your feeding habits as well as any interactions you have with members of other species.

4.3 Succession

Understand Key Concepts

14. Fires, hurricanes, and other natural disturbances can result in

    1. commensalism.

    2. competition.

    3. parasitism.

    4. succession.

15. The first organisms to repopulate an area affected by a volcanic eruption are called

    1. keystone species.

    2. climax species.

    3. primary producers.

    4. pioneer species.

16. What type of succession takes place after lava from a volcanic eruption covers an area?

17. Describe two major causes of ecological succession.

Think Critically

18. Predict A windstorm in a forest blows down the large trees in one part of the forest. Soon, sun-loving plants sprout in the new clearing. What type of succession is this? What do you think this area will look like in 5 years? In 50 years?

19. Relate Cause and Effect Explain why secondary succession usually proceeds faster than primary succession.