Please answer any/all questions you can and I will each posting for each questio
ID: 6884 • Letter: P
Question
Please answer any/all questions you can and I will each posting for each question answered rate as lifesaver, thank you so much!!PG. 338 - 1.) Is the Clapper Raid headed for extinction or is the species having a temporary decline due to excessive predation, lack of resources, a disruption in the lower tropic levels, or some other reason? Explain your response as it relates to the specific ecosystem.
2.) If nature had previously recycled nutrients using forest fires as the mechanism, why must we use “prescribed burns” to accomplish the same results today?
3.) What are the similarities and differences between the function of the decomposers and the effects of periodic fires?
4.) Can energy be recycled?
5.) Why do ecological pyramids have a wide base and a narrow tip?
6.) What are some of the methods used to study weather patterns? Do you think the data collected can help to predict future climatic conditions?
7.) Are temperature gradients present in all biomes? What is one example of an adaptation to a colder temperature range?
8.) Can you also give an example of adaptation to a very arid environment?
Explanation / Answer
2) The presence of humans has affected the ecosystem so much that forest fires are not as common as they used to be (humans cut down trees, dur). Because of this, nutrients cannot be effectively recycled naturally because of the reduced forest population. 4) The law of conservation of energy says that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. So the word "recycle" is a bit of a misnomer, but essentially the answer is yes. 5) In every ecosystem there are differences in the number of organisms in a species. A biological pyramid is simply a way of organizing these species from smallest to greatest (descending). 7) Yes. As far as we have discovered, temperature gradients are an implied requirement for life. The reason water is a requirement for life (as opposed to a different liquid such as ammonia) is because it is the only known liquid that becomes less dense when it gets colder (this is why your ice floats in a glass of water) which is what gives water is ability to regulate temperature. An example of an adaptation to a colder temperature range would be the fat on a penguin that prevents it from flying (but keeps it warm) or perhaps the white fur of a polar bear. The colder temperature range caused the rain to become snow and where a brown/black bear would be easily seen by its prey, the polar bear can blend in with its surroundings so it's prey will not notice it as easily. 8) A couple example are the cactus and the camel. The cactus can store water. The camel, although contrary to popular belief, does not store water in its hump. Rather, it stores almost all of its fat in its hump which allows heat to escape from the majority of their body easily.