Interactions & Populations
What is it called when two or more organisms affect each other in some way?
What is an interaction?
All food can be traced back to what original source?
What is plants
Name the three substances that count as food.
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats
What shows how energy moves from one organism to another?
A food chain
What is an invasive species?
A species that moves into an ecosystem and causes harm.
Name one reason a biologist might complete a field study.
To observe population changes or study organisms in their natural habitat.
What do plants need to grow? (Name all four things.)
Sunlight, air, water, and nutrients
What two substances make up carbohydrates?
Sugar and starch
What’s the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows one energy path; a food web shows many connected paths.
Where did the lamprey come from?
They entered through the canal system connecting to the Great Lakes.
Changes in an ecosystem, like more or fewer animals, are evidence of what?
Interactions between organisms or with the environment.
What is the process plants use to make their own food?
Photosynthesis
What is the difference between micronutrients and macronutrients?
Macronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) provide energy; micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) are needed in small amounts.
What happens if one organism is removed from a food web?
It affects the entire ecosystem, directly or indirectly.
What does the lamprey eat?
It attaches to and feeds on fish.
List three of the four factors that affect a population.
Reproduction, Food, Other organisms, Environment
What is the type of farming that does not include soil for the plants?
Hydroponics.
What tool or part of food packaging tells you how much of each substance is in food?
Nutrition label
Give an example of a direct relationship in a food web.
Example — A fox eating a rabbit (predator-prey relationship)
Why does the lamprey not need a stomach?
It sucks blood and body fluids, so it doesn’t need to digest solid food.
You are a biologist studying Dall Sheep. What is one question you might ask to understand population changes?
How does food availability affect Dall Sheep numbers over time?
Explain why plants are producers in a food web.
They produce their own food through photosynthesis, providing energy for all other organisms.
What are the three parts of a strong CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning)?
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning
Give an example of an indirect relationship.
Example — If foxes eat more rabbits, the plant population increases because fewer rabbits eat plants.
Using CER, explain how lamprey affect trout populations.
Claim: Lamprey decrease trout populations.
Evidence: They feed on and kill trout.
Reasoning: This reduces trout numbers and disrupts the ecosystem.