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LS2: Ecosystems (Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics)

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do carbon, nitrogen, and water cycle through an ecosystem?

Construct an explanation for how matter cycles through ecosystems, including the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, and the role of photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposers (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).
A standard-level answer on biogeochemical cycles for the Tennessee Biology I EOC: how the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles move matter through ecosystems, the role of photosynthesis and respiration in the carbon cycle, and the role of decomposers and bacteria.
13 min answer →

What keeps an ecosystem stable, and how does it recover from disturbance?

Analyze and interpret data on how biodiversity, species interactions, and disturbance affect ecosystem stability and resilience, including succession (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).
A standard-level answer on ecosystem dynamics for the Tennessee Biology I EOC: how biodiversity and species interactions support stability, the symbiotic relationships, how disturbance affects an ecosystem, and ecological succession (primary and secondary).
13 min answer →

How does energy flow through an ecosystem, and why does it decrease at each level?

Use a model to illustrate how energy flows through an ecosystem from producers to consumers and decomposers, and why it decreases at each trophic level (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).
A standard-level answer on energy flow for the Tennessee Biology I EOC: producers, consumers, and decomposers, food chains and food webs, trophic levels, energy pyramids, and the 10 percent rule for energy transfer.
13 min answer →

How do human activities affect ecosystems, and what can reduce the harm?

Evaluate evidence about how human activities (habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overuse) affect ecosystems and biodiversity, and how conservation can reduce the impact (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).
A standard-level answer on human impact for the Tennessee Biology I EOC: habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and overharvesting, their effects on biodiversity and ecosystems, and the conservation strategies that reduce the impact.
12 min answer →

What limits the size of a population, and what is carrying capacity?

Use mathematical or graphical representations to explain how carrying capacity and limiting factors control population size (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).
A standard-level answer on populations for the Tennessee Biology I EOC: exponential versus logistic growth, carrying capacity, density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors, and how to read a population-growth graph.
13 min answer →