Ch.+17+Study+Guide

Ecology - Chapter 17 - Cycles In Nature

What you need to know for the test:
 * 1) Describe the key processes and explain the importance to living thing of the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle.
 * 2) Be able to recognize each cycle from a diagram and identify key processes.
 * 3) Be able to explain the importance of living things to each of the cycles. (What role do living things play in each cycle? Plants vs. Animals).
 * 4) Be able to discuss the similarities of each of the cycles.
 * 5) Describe the process of succession (How does it start? What stages does it go through? How does it end?).
 * 6) Describe how pioneer species prepare an area for other living things.
 * 7) Compare and contrast primary and secondary succession (What are the similarities? What are the differences?).
 * 8) Explain how mature communities develop.
 * 9) Describe a climax community.
 * 10) Be able to define biodiversity and explain why is it important.