Chapter Objectives

Chapter 20

Ecosystems and Conservation Biology

Overview:  Ecosystem Ethics and Dynamics

1. Compare the processes of energy flow and chemical cycling as they relate to ecosystem dynamics.

2. Distinguish between a natural and an artificial ecosystem.

3. Discuss the current relationship between land ethics and the conservation movement.

The Tropic Structure of Ecosystems

4. Define and give examples of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, decomposers, and detritivores in an ecosystem.

5. Distinguish between a food chain and a food web.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

6. Describe the composition of the levels of an energy pyramid.  Explain why energy pyramids usually do not have more than three to five levels.

Chemical Cycles in Ecosystems

7. Describe the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and water.

Human Impact on Ecosystems

8. Explain how biological magnification concentrates toxins in the highest trophic levels.

9. Explain how burning trees  after deforestation and using fossil fuels contribute to global warming.  Describe the possible consequences of global warming.

10. Explain how the use of chemical pollutants contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.  Describe the possible consequences of the depletion of the ozone layer.

The Biodiversity Crisis

11. Describe the three levels of biological diversity.

12. Describe the three main causes of biodiversity crisis.

13. Explain why biodiversity matters.

Conservation Biology

14. Distinguish between endangered and threatened species.

15. Explain how habitat fragmentation impacts a species.

16. Describe the nature of the issues confronting modern conservation biology.

17. Explain how edges, corridors, and zoned reserves are important to the conservation of landscapes.