III. Prepositions

Fill in the correct preposition for each blank space.

the earth taken

1. Photographs,

the moon made it clear

as never before that the Earth is a sphere the void

space like a spaceship an everlasting journey.

The word "species" refers the total population a spe­ cific kind plant, animal, or microbe.

and no less dependent

3. Humans are no less a part

these interrelationships than any other species.

4. It should be clear that sustainability human society as well

as sustainability other species will depend maintain­ ing the integrity the biosphere.

5- An ecosystem may be defined a grouping various

species plants, animals, and microbes interacting

each other and their environment.

⁶- Across northern Canada and the upper slopes moun­ tains, there are treeless expanses called tundra, and equato-

ⁿal regions we find tropical rainforests.

ecosystem is characterized

An ^array microbes will be found

feeding

• Looking these examples more closely, we note that each

dead plant and animal material.

a distinctive plant community. each ecosystem,

jj

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Unit Three _Ecosystems: What They Are

33

9. Thus, each grouping association the environment

that supports it is an ecosystem.

10. How the loss all these birds will affect various ecosystems is

a question we just cannot answer this time.

11. It is only the convenience study and understanding

that we divide it biomes and smaller ecosystems.

IV. DEFINITE/INDEFINITE ARTICLES

Use a/an or the where needed. If no article is needed, write an A^-in the blank space.

No living organism exists or can exist as entity unto itself.

Each organism is but one member of particular species.

word "species" refers to total population of specific

kind of plant, animal, or microbe. But no species

is entity unto itself either. All species depend on air,

water, and nutritive elements from earth's minerals. But

plants, animals, and microbes also play

important roles in removing pollutants from air and re­ plenishing its oxygen and carbon dioxide, in purifying

water, and in recycling mineral elements. Therefore, we

can say that plants support animals; animal ac­ tivities support plants; and all organisms help to support

and maintain air, water, and soil quality.

V. Values discussion

Answer the following questions. Then discuss your answers with your classmates.

1. Why did "Spaceship Earth" become a popular term and concept?

a. It has an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

b. It interacts with living things.

с It is unique among all the planets we know, d. other

2. What do all species depend on?

a. Plant, animals, and microbes.

b. Oxygen and carbon dioxide.

с Air, water, and nutritive elements from the earth's minerals, d. other

3. What does the biosphere consist of?

a. Ozone shield and tropical forests.

b. A virtually infinite number of mutually dependent and mutu­ ally supportive interrelationships among all living organisms, air, water, and minerals.

с Natural resources, d. other

4. Why is it important to examine ecosystems?

a. We need to know how the biosphere works.

b. To maintain the integrity of the biosphere.

с Sustainability of human society will depend on maintaining the

integrity of the biosphere, d. other

5. What are there across northern Canada?

a. Deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests.

b. Tropical rainforests.

с Treeless expanses called tundra, d. other

6. Different ecosystems are the result of what?

a. Different prairies, grasslands, and forests.

b. Different environmental conditions of temperature and rainfall, с Different climates.

d. other

7. What is an ecosystem?

a. Grouping of particular plants.

b. Particular array of animals.

с Each grouping in association with the environment that sup­ports it. d. other

8. What is called a biome?

a. Major terrestrial ecosystems.

b. A number of more or less distinct but related ecosystems, с A number of closely related ecosystems.

d. other 9- What is an ecotone?

a. Distinct boundaries between biomes and ecosystems.

b. A region that contains many of the species and characteristics of the two adjacent systems.

³ - 4938

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Unit Three Ecosystems: What They Are

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с A transitional region, d. other

10. What may the ecotone between adjacent systems include?

a. Distinctive plants and animals.

b. Plants and animals common to the adjoining ecosystems, с Unique environment.

d. other

11. In what form are there conspicuous ecotones between oceans and

the land?

a. In the form of estuaries.

b. In the form of beaches.

с In the form of wetlands and rocky coastlines, d. other