1. Habitat: The place where an organism lives. (Address)
Niche: The role a species plays in the community. It includes the space, food, and other conditions needed to reproduce and survive. (Occupation)

2. Describe the habitat and niche of the following:
• A bat
• A mushroom
• A puffin

3. The Hydrologic Cycle (A Fancy way of saying the water cycle)
Water returns to the atmosphere through:
evaporation
transpiration (loss of water from the pores in leaves)

4. The Carbon Cycle
The element carbon is present in all organic molecules (in living things), including sugars, lipids and proteins. There is a cycling of carbon from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere into living things.

5. Carbon Cycle: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to produce the sugar glucose (C6H12O6). Photosynthesis: 6 CO H2O  C6H12O6 (glucose sugar) + 6 O2 + 6 H2O (requires energy from the sun)

6. Combustion Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6CO2 + 6H2O
The process in which organisms break down glucose sugar (C6H12O6 ) or other food molecules using oxygen. Carbon dioxide is released. This process is really controlled combustion. It releases the energy stored in sugar for the cell’s energy needs.
C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6CO2 + 6H2O
Combustion
The burning of organic matter (wood, fossil fuels) produces carbon dioxide.

8. Carbon Cycle Video

9. Discuss with your table partner:
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased over the past century. Name two human activities that are increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. (Review the different process that use or give off carbon dioxide.)

10. 2 Ways that humans are increasing the CO2 levels in the atmosphere:
Increased burning of fossil fuels.
Increased deforestation
Fewer trees to utilize CO2 from the atmosphere in photosynthesis.

11. Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is an element that is found in organic molecules (molecules in living things), including DNA and protein. Nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78% of the atmosphere. But it is in a form that cannot be used by most organisms.

12. Certain bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen
Certain bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen. This process is called nitrogen fixing.
This usable nitrogen in the soil can then be utilized by plants and passed through the food chain.

14. Many farmers grow cover crops, like fava beans or clover, on their fields to improve the health of the soil. How do these crops help? These plants have nodules on their roots where nitrogen fixing bacteria live. The bacteria increases the nitrogen content of the soil which helps the plants to grow.

15. Eutrophication: To much of a good thing
Eutrophication is the addition of excess nutrients to an aquatic system
Fertilizers- N and P
Detergents- P
Organic waste (manure, sewage)
Algal bloom: excessive growth of algae when the normally limiting nutrients (N or P) are increased

16. Nitrogen Cycle Video

17. Dissolved Oxygen Levels Drop -decomposers use O2
Eutrophication Cont.
Decomposition by oxygen-using bacteria
Algal bloom decomposition because excessive growth of algae blocks light and some of algae dies off.
Organic waste can be used directly as food by decomposers
Dissolved Oxygen Levels Drop
-decomposers use O2
Can result in fish kills and decline of other species

18. Eutrophication Animation

19. Puget Sound Dead Zones

20. Organisms living together in a close and permanent association.
Symbiosis:
Organisms living together in a close and permanent association.
3 Types of Symbiosis:
Mutualism:
A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.

21. Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is not harmed.

22. Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitism:
A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits but the other is harmed.

23. The clownfish is protected by the sea anemone
The clownfish is protected by the sea anemone. The anemone benefits by improved water circulation. Which type of symbiotic relationship do these 2 species have? Mutualism

24. Explain the difference between mutualism and commensalism
Explain the difference between mutualism and commensalism. In mutualism, both species benefit. Whereas in commensalism, the second species neither benefits nor is harmed.
Parasitism
Mutualism
Commensalism

25. Introduced Species (also known as invasive or non-native or exotic or non-indigeneous)
May be:
Deliberate or
Accidental
Many species not well suited to new environment and do not survive
Some species thrive in new environment.
Especially if no predator present
May cause environmental damage
- overgraze vegetation
-cause extinction of species

26. NBC News – Potential Invasive Species from Tsunami Debris

27. Invasive species are the second leading cause (after habitat destruction) of extinctions of native species.
Examples:
Kudzu in the Southeastern US
Cane Toads in Australia
Zebra Mussels in the Great Lakes