Chapter
Objectives
At the end of this unit students
will be able to
1. Distinguish between ecosystems and communities.
2. Sequence the process of succession in a terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem.
3. Describe the energy relationships in food chains and food webs.
4. Describe the basic components of biogeochemical cycles and provide
examples of how the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the phosphorus cycle,
and the nitrogen cycle use biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
5. Describe and evaluate examples of predator-prey relationships, including
the role of host defenses.
6. Describe and evaluate examples of various types of symbiotic relationships
including mutualism and commensalisms.
7. Describe the role of competition in shaping the nature of ecosystems
and communities.
8. Recognize the role of climate, latitude, and elevation in determining
the nature of a biological community.
9. Compare major terrestrial and aquatic biological communities (biomes),
including tropical rain forests.
10. Discuss three environmental pollution issues and methods for solving
environmental problems.