Unit Question
Why do populations change size in an ecosystem?
Chapter 1
Question: Why didn’t the plants and animals in the biodome have enough energy storage molecules?
Investigations Questions:
How do births and deaths in a population affect its size? (1.3, 1.4)
Key Concepts:
Carbon is part of carbon dioxide, which is abiotic matter. Carbon is also part of energy storage molecules, which are biotic matter. (1.4, 1.5)
During the process of photosynthesis, producers make energy storage molecules, using carbon from carbon dioxide and energy from sunlight. This moves carbon from abiotic to biotic matter. (1.4)
If one part of a system changes, this affects the rest of the system. (1.5)
When there is more carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, more carbon is available to producers for making energy storage molecules. (1.6)
When there is less carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, less carbon is available to producers for making energy storage molecules. (1.6)
When there is more sunlight, producers can make more energy storage molecules from the carbon in carbon dioxide. (1.6)
When there is less sunlight, producers cannot make as many energy storage molecules from the carbon in carbon dioxide. (1.6)
Chapter 2
Question: What caused carbon dioxide to decrease in the air (abiotic matter) of the biodome?
Investigations Questions:
Where does the carbon dioxide in abiotic matter come from? (2.1)
How do organisms give off carbon dioxide? (2.2)
Key Concepts:
As organisms release energy during cellular respiration, carbon dioxide is produced from the carbon in energy storage molecules. This process moves carbon from biotic to abiotic matter. (2.3)
Chapter 3
Question: What happened to the carbon that used to be in the air (abiotic matter) of the biodome?
Investigations Questions:
If the amount of carbon changed in one part of a closed ecosystem, what happened to the carbon in the rest of the ecosystem? (3.1, 3.2)
Key Concepts:
Since carbon cannot be produced or used up, the total amount of carbon in a closed ecosystem does not change. (3.3)
If the amount of carbon increased in abiotic matter, then it also decreased in biotic matter. If the amount of carbon decreased in abiotic matter, then it also increased in biotic matter. (3.3)
Chapter 4: Science Seminar
Question: Why does deforestation lead to increased carbon dioxide in the air?