I. Earth's Climates
A. Be able to fully explain how solar energy drives global climates
and biodiversity.
B. Be able to fully explain how atmospheric circulations drives global climates and biodiversity.
C. Oceanic currents are driven by atmospheric circulations.
II. Energy Flows Through Ecosystems
A. Be able to fully explain how photosynthesis drives the flow of energy
through most ecosystems and how this effects biodiversity.
B. Be able to fully explain how energy flows through an ecosystem and how this effects biodiversity.
C. Be able to fully explain how most energy is lost between trophic levels (90% is lost).
D. Be able to fully explain how some ecosystems are not powered by direct
sunlight.
III. Nutrients (materials) Cycle Through
an Ecosystem (Biogeochemical Cycles)
A. Be able to fully explain how the following cycles work and how they
effect biodiversity:
1. Water cycles
2. Carbon cycle. 3.
Nitrogen cycle.
B. Be able to fully explain how humans influence biogeochemical cycles.
C. Be able to fully explain how humans manipulate productivity of some
ecosystems.
IV. Issues Facing the Global Ecosystem
A. Be able to fully explain how these issues effect biodiversity and
human health on Earth
1. human population growth
2. biomagnification
3. clean drinking water
4. greenhouse gases and global warming
5. thinning ozone layer
6. Solid waste
7. Habitat destruction
8. Species extinction