Living Environment Exam#5 Study Guide Ms.

Huang

Reproductive System
1. Sexual vs Asexual

2. Types of asexual reproduction (you should be able to recognize each type based on pictures)
Binary Fission
○ Prokaryotic cell, splits into two halves creating two new identical cells

Budding
○ Identical offspring grows out of the body of parent

Fragmentation
○ Body of parent breaks into distinct pieces, all of which become offspring
Regeneration
○ A piece of parent is detached, and it grows into an offspring

Vegetative Reproduction
○ Part of parent (plant) is rerooted into soil to create second plant

3. Sexual reproduction happens when a sperm cell enters an ova (Egg Cell) during
fertilization.

4.Each gamete contains 23 pairs of chromosomes (in humans). Sperm cells and egg cells are
called gametes.
- The two fuse to form a zygote with 46 total of chromosomes.

5. Gametes are sex cells, sex cells divide by meiosis, one sperm cell and one egg cell
fuse together to form a zygote, a zygote is a body cell, and the body cells divide by
mitosis.

6. The male reproductive system (each part and its function)

Testicles (Testes)

- Produce and store sperm cells

- Produce testosterone
- Primary malesex hormone
- Responsible for development of male reproductive tissues such as prostate and
testes.
- Promotes Male secondary sex characteristics such as increase in bone-mass &
size, broadening of the shoulders, deepening of the voice, and facial/body hair.

Scrotum

- Sack-like structure that provides support for the testes.

Penis

- Transfers sperm/semen into females during intercourse, for fertilization.

The Seminal Vesicle:

- Produce and release many components of semen, such as fructose & potassium

Prostate:

- Secretes prostate fluid, another important component of semen

Urethra

- Carries urine or semen out of the body

7. The female reproductive system (each part and its function)

Ovaries

- Produce ovum (egg cells)

- Produce Estrogen & Progesterone
- Primary Female sex hormones
- Estrogen controls production of female secondary sex characteristics, such as
widening of the hips and development of breasts
- Assists in regulating the menstrual cycle.
- Progesterone stimulates the thickening of Uterine lining to support fetal
development
- Assists in regulating the menstrual cycle.

Fallopian Tubes

- Egg cells will be released from the ovaries into the fallopian tube during ovulation
- This is the location where a sperm cell may fertilize the egg cell
Uterus

- Site of Implantation
- After fertilization in the fallopian tubes, the embryo will travel down to the
uterus and implant itself into the uterine wall.

Vagina

- Receives sperm/semen from penis.

- Birth canal (site of birth/exit of offspring)

Cervix

- Consists of very strong muscle

- Assists in regulation of menstrual cycle, direction of sperm, and birth.

8. Menstrual Cycle
9. Function of the sex hormones
Estrogen:

- Highest during ovulation

- Lowest during menstruation

Progesterone:

- Highest just after ovulation

- Lowest during menstruation

10. The embryo begins dividing as it travels down the fallopian tube.

11. Once embryo reachs the uterus, it will implant itself into the thickened wall of the uterus
during a process called “Implantation”.

12. The Amniotic Sac is similar to a fluid filled bag, the fluid in the amniotic sac is referred to as
amniotic fluid.

- Cushions & Protects the developing fetus, Acting as a giant shock absorber.

13. The Placenta is responsible for exchange of materials such as nutrients, oxygen, and
carbon dioxide between the fetus and mother.

14. The umbilical cord is a tube that links the embryo to the placenta.

15. The umbilical cord and Placenta work together to bring the mother’s and embryo’s blood
NEXT to each other, separated only by the membrane of the placenta. These materials are
exchanged through the membrane, but the blood of the mother and embryo NEVER MIX!
Evolution

16. Evidence of evolution

Homologous Structures - bones similar in structure and arrangement (Species with homologous
structures have evolved from a common ancestor)

Vestigial Structures - Serve no purpose or function. “Leftovers” from previous organisms.

Organisms with vestigial structures share common ancestors in which said structure had a
purpose/function

Molecular Similarities- The more closely organisms are related, the more they will share
similar Enzymes, Hormones, Amino Acid Sequences, DNA, etc.

17. Phylogenetic Trees****

• Each divergence represents the evolution of a new species.
• Species that do not make it to the end of the phylogenetic tree are extinct
• Species that are closer to each other, sharing a divergence point closer to the end
are more closely related as they have a more recent common ancestor

(For example, in this case, A is the species that already extinct, C and D are closely related to
each other and have a more recent common ancestor. )

18. Natural Selection

• “Survival of the fittest”
• The environment selects which individuals will and will NOT survive.
• Individuals that survive are better suited or more “fit” to survive, thrive and reproduce in a
given environment

19. What causes natural selection?

1. Overproduction- More offspring produced than can survive
2. Competition-Organisms must compete for limited resources
3. Variation-Differences in traits deem some organisms more fit than others. A variation that
increases an organisms’ chances of survival is called an adaptation
4. Mutation- Mistakes in DNA could result in favorable or harmful variation/characteristics
 5. Sexual Reproduction-genetic recombination.

20. Speciation - the production of a new species. It can be caused by variation, geographic
isolation, and reproductive isolation.

Ecology

21. Biosphere - any region of Earth where life could be found… The “Biosphere” includes all of
Earth’s Ecosystems. It is the largest and least specific layer.

22. Ecosystem - includes all living members as well as non-living components such as the
physical environment of a particular region.

23. Community - All living things/different species in a particular area

24. Population - All the members of ONE species within a particular region

25. Abiotic Factors - Non-living components of an ecosystem. -Can act as Limiting Factors -
limit the type and number of certain organisms that could live in a particular location. Example:
Water, Weather, Temperature, Air Quality, Rocks, Sand etc.

26. Biotic Factors - The living components of an Ecosystem- Includes all different types:
Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

27. Producers - Autotrophs, Any photosynthetic organism capable of making its own energy

• ex. Plants, Algae, Plankton, certain Bacteria, etc.

28. Consumers - Heterotrophs, Organisms that eat other organisms

Types of Consumers:

1. Herbivores - plant eaters

2. Carnivores - meat eaters

3. Omnivores - plant/meat eaters

4. Scavengers - Eat dead organisms that they did not kill for themselves

29. Decomposers - Heterotrophs, breakdown dead animals, plants (and poop) and return
materials back into the environment.
 • ex. bacteria, fungi, insects, maggots, etc.

• Materials that are returned to the environment mainly include Nitrogen and other important
nutrients for plants.

30. Food chain and food web***

• Arrows show the direction of energy flow. ONLY shows a SINGULAR possible flow of
energy

For example, in the food chain above, owl eat mouse, mouse eats grasshopper, and
grasshopper eats grass.

For example, in the food web above, grasshoppers can be eaten by both sparrows and hawks,
at the same time, hawks also eat sparrows.

31. A self-sustaining ecosystem must recycle materials between both living and non-living
components. (Ex:The water cycle, the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle, and the nitrogen cycle)

32. A place where an organisms lives and finds shelter is called it’s Habitat. The role a species
plays in an ecosystem is called a Niche - a Niche includes where an organism lives, what it eats
and what its job is in the ecosystem.**When Niches overlap, competition occurs**
33. Competition occurs when organisms in the same habitat need the same limited resources.
(food, water, shelter, etc.). Competition may eliminate one of the species, establishing one
species per niche in each community.

34. Predator - Animal which kills and consumes

Prey - The animal that the predator feeds on

35. Succession is when one ecological community replaces another until a stable system is
reached.Once a stable ecosystem is formed it is referred to as “Climax Community”

36. Symbiosis is when two different organisms live in close physical association

-depending on each other

-one depends on the other

-could be harmful to one

• Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship that results in one organisms benefiting

and the other being unharmed
• ex. Shark and Remora Fish

• Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit

• ex. Rhino & Oxpecker

• Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism relies on the other. The
reliant organism benefits while harming the host.
• ex. Tapeworms, Athletes Foot

37. High Biodiverstity = High STABILITY of Ecosystem

High Biodiversity = more variety of genes and characteristics that could become useful to
humans in fields such as medicine. It also means greater chances of surviving and adaptation to
a changing environment

38. Human impacts on ecosystem

-Some of Human Negative Impacts on the Environment:
a. Depletion of Natural Resources
b. Loss of Biodiversity
Direct Harvesting - the removal of a specific species from their homes (ex. Clownfish)
Habitat Destruction - the destruction of an area where an organisms lives (ex.
Deforestation - Removal of forests)
Invasive Species - Any non-native species that has migrated into an ecosystem where
it is not typically found
c. Pollution(air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution)
Air pollution-can cause global warmining, ozone depletion, and acid rain.
Exam review practice (25 questions in total)

1.Some chemical interactions in a human are shown in the graph below.

This graph represents hormones and events in the

A) process of fetal growth and development
B) process of meiotic cell division during sperm development
C) reproductive cycle of males
D) reproductive cycle of females

2. The reproductive cycle of a human is usually regulated by

A) sex cells
B) hormones
C) natural selection
D) immune responses

3. A large number of sperm cells are produced by males every day. This large number of sperm
cells increases the chance that
A) at least one sperm cell will be reached when the eggs swim toward the sperm cells in the
ovary
B) several sperm cells will unite with an egg so the fertilized egg will develop properly
C) some of the sperm cells will survive to reach the egg
D) enough sperm cells will be present to transport the egg from where it is produced to where it
develops into a fetus

4. Human egg cells are most similar to human sperm cells in their
A) method of movement
B) amount of stored food
C) chromosome number
D) shape and size
 5. The major function of the placenta is to
A) cushion the fetus so it won't be hurt when the mother moves
OB) exchange food, oxygen, and waste between mother and fetus
C) store food for the fetus
D) support the egg for the process of fertilization

6. The development of an embryo is represented in the diagram below.

These changes in the form of the embryo are a direct result of

A) uncontrolled cell division and mutations
OB) differentiation and growth
C) antibodies and antigens inherited from the father
D) meiosis and fertilization

7. The primary function of the human male reproductive system is to

A) provide a site for fertilization
OB) produce and transport gametes
C) protect and nourish the embryo
D) prevent urine from leaving the body

8. The inability of sperm cells to move normally could prevent the production of offspring by
interfering with
A) meiosis
B) mitosis
OC) fertilization
D) differentiation
9. Even though the environment changes, a population that occupies a given geographic area
will most likely continue to be found in this area if the
A) variations in the population decrease over time
B) members of the population decrease in number
C) members of the population exceed the carrying capacity

O
D) population passes on those genes that result in favorable adaptations

10. Natural selection and its evolutionary consequences provide a scientific explanation for each
of the following except
A) the fossil record
B) protein and DNA similarities between different organisms
C) similar structures among different organisms
D) a stable physical environment
O
11. The females of certain species of turtles will sneak into a nest of alligator eggs to lay their
own eggs and then leave, never to return. When the baby turtles hatch, they automatically hide
from the mother alligator guarding the nest and go to the nearest body of water when it is safe
to do so. Which statement best explains the behavior of these baby turtles?

O
A) More of the turtles’ ancestors who acted in this way survived to reproduce, passing this
behavioral trait to their offspring.
B) The baby turtles are genetically identical, so they behave the same way.
C) Turtles are not capable of evolving, so they repeat the same behaviors generation after
generation.
D) The baby turtles’ ancestors who learned to behave this way taught the behaviors to their
offspring.

12. The evolutionary pathways of several species are represented in the diagram below.

Which species was best adapted for survival in changing environmental conditions?
A) A
OB) E
C) K
D) L
13. The species of finches that Darwin found on the Galapagos Islands displayed different
structural and behavioral adaptations. These adaptations differed among the species according
to the birds' varying habitats. Such adaptations most likely evolved as a result of
A) use and disuse
B) transmission of acquired characteristics
O
C) reproductive isolation
D) geographic isolation

14. Beak structures differ between individuals of one species of bird. These differences most
likely indicate
O
A) the presence of a variety of food sources
B) a reduced rate of reproduction
C) a large supply of one kind of food
D) an abundance of predators

15.The blood of rhesus monkeys contains proteins similar to those found in the blood of
humans. This observation suggests that rhesus monkeys and humans
A) belong to the same genus
O
B) may have a common ancestor
C) have identical chromosomes
D) occupy the same niche

16. Which two species are the most closely related?

A) J and L
B) G and L
C) F and H
O
D) F and G

17. Which list includes only abiotic factors?

A) soil, water, air, and sunlight
O
B) ducks, fish, soil, and water
C) humidity, temperature, rodents, and grasses
D) trees, flowering plants, mosses, and ferns
18. The dodo bird inhabited the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, where it lived
undisturbed for years. It lost its ability to fly and it lived and nested on the ground where it ate
fruits that had fallen from trees. There were no mammals living on the island. In 1505, the first
humans set foot on Mauritius. The island quickly became a stopover for ships engaged in the
spice trade. The dodo was a welcome source of fresh meat for the sailors and large numbers of
dodos were killed for food. In time, pigs, monkeys, and rats brought to the island ate the dodo
eggs in the ground nests.

Which statement describes what most likely happened to the dodo bird within 100 years of the
arrival of humans on Mauritius?
A) Dodo birds developed the ability to fly in order to escape predation and their population
increased.
B) The dodo bird population increased after the birds learned to build their nests in trees.
C) Human exploitation and introduced species significantly reduced dodo bird populations.
O
D) The dodo bird population became smaller because they preyed upon the introduced species.

19. An ecosystem will most likely remain stable if

A) it has more predators than prey

0
B) it has a high level of biodiversity
C) biotic factors decrease
D) finite resources decrease

Free Response Questions (Some of the questions have more than one correct answer)
20. In many areas, there are some small mammals whose fur color is influenced by
temperature. In these animals, the trait for fur color is expressed only if the air temperature is
above a certain level. In cold weather, when the ground is covered with snow, the trait is not
expressed and the fur color is white. Explain how the fur color change trait may help the small
mammals survive.

color could help the animals camouflage

The fur
against predators
21.Human reproduction is influenced by many different factors. Identify the structure in the
uterus where the exchange of material between the mother and the developing fetus takes
place.
placenta and umbilical
cord
It takes place in the
22. The reproductive cycle in a human female is not functioning properly. An imbalance of
hormones is diagnosed as the cause. Identify one hormone directly involved in the human
female reproductive system that could cause this problem.

Not enough production of estrogen

23. In the 1980s, global deforestation was estimated at 17 to 20 million hectares per year, an
area the size of Great Britain. Today, the area affected by deforestation has decreased
significantly in some regions of the world through the use of sustainable forest management.
However, there are still regions of the world affected by wide-scale deforestation, because of the
short-term economic benefits. The harmful effects of deforestation on regional and worldwide
climate and ecology continue as forest areas are destroyed.

Explain how deforestation decreases biodiversity.

decreases biodiversity because it causes habbitat
Deforestation to decline
destructionwhich can cause other animals population
since there is no way for them to go
24. Identify two specific populations that most likely increased in number after the mountain lion
population decreased. Support your answer.

of deer and
The population
rabbits because they
wouldn't have any predators
hunting them

25. Explain why, in a mammal, a mutation in a gamete may contribute to evolution while a
mutation in a body cell will not.

Because gametes carry DNA