Ecosystem Basics
The place where an organism lives.
Habitat
These organisms make their own food.
True or false: A food web contains several connected food chains.
true
Two animals need the same food. They are doing this with each other.
competing
This body covering is a clue that an animal is a bird.
feathers
The changes an organism goes through from birth to death.
life cycle
The role or job an organism has in its ecosystem.
niche
These organisms get energy by eating plants or animals.
consumers
A mouse eats grass. An owl eats the mouse. Which organism receives energy from the mouse?
owl
Two groups of birds need the same nesting area. What resource are they competing for?
shelter/space
Mammals usually have this body covering.
fur or hair
Complete the frog life cycle:
egg → ______ → froglet → adult frog
tadpole
All of the same type of organism living in one area.
population
The main source of energy for most food chains.
sun
Grass is eaten by both rabbits and mice. What role does the grass have?
producer
A rabbit population has plenty of food and water. What will most likely happen to the population?
increase
Reptiles usually have this type of skin.
scaly/dry
A nymph eventually develops into this stage.
adult
All of the different living populations in one area.
community
In this food chain, name the organism that gives energy to the frog:
grass → grasshopper → frog → snake
grasshopper
If a population of mice decreases, what will most likely happen to animals that depend on mice for food?
They may decrease/have less food.
Foxes and owls both eat mice. The mouse population suddenly decreases. Will competition between the foxes and owls increase or decrease?
increase
A tool that uses a series of two choices to identify an organism.
dichotomous key
Lions may work together in groups to do this in order to obtain food.
hunt
Living and nonliving things interacting together in one area.
ecosystem
Put these organisms in the correct energy order:
hawk, plant, rabbit, Sun
Sun → plant → rabbit → hawk
Why do carnivores depend on plants even when they do not eat plants themselves?
Because the animals they eat may depend on plants for energy.
A population becomes too large for the amount of food available. What will most likely happen?
Some organisms may die or the population will decrease.
An animal has no backbone, six legs, and wings. Would you continue down the vertebrate or invertebrate part of a classification key?
invertebrate
Elephants may form a group around their young for this reason.
protection