Ecosystems
An ecosystem contains both biotic and abiotic factors. Name three abiotic factors that could affect which organisms live there.
Abiotic: physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms
Biotic: relating to or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations
sunlight, temperature, water, soil, rocks, air, rainfall, or wind
Explain the difference between a behavioral adaptation and a structural adaptation.
Structural adaptations are physical features (fur, claws, beaks); behavioral adaptations are actions (migration, hibernation, hunting in groups).
Why can camouflage help both predators and prey?
Predators use it to sneak up on prey, while prey use it to avoid predators.
Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk
Which organism is the secondary consumer?
The frog.
How many years since knicks won championship?
53 years
A wildfire destroys most of the plants in a forest. Which organisms are likely to be affected first, and why?
Herbivores, because they lose their food source. Predators would be affected later because their prey populations decrease.
What were the names of the two butterflies that look similar but one is poisonous and one is not.
Monarch and Viceroy
A snowy owl remains white all year, but the snow melts in spring. How might this affect its survival?
It becomes easier for prey and predators to see it, making hunting more difficult and increasing risk.
Why are food webs generally more stable than food chains?
Organisms have multiple food sources, so losing one species doesn't completely disrupt energy flow.
What is Thor's hammer's name? (50 extra points if you spell it correctly)
Mjolnir
Two birds eat the same seeds and nest in the same trees. What kind of relationship will likely increase between them? (one word)
Competition.
Why might an animal with bright warning colors actually be easier to see on purpose?
To warn predators that it is poisonous or dangerous.
Which animals change color actively?
Chameleons and Octopuses (and some insects)
If a disease kills most of the frogs in a pond ecosystem, predict what happens to insect and snake populations.
Insects increase; snakes decrease because they lose a food source.
Because its hundreds of “seeds” are on the outside, this “berry” isn’t considered a true berry. What is the berry?
A beaver builds a dam that creates a pond. Explain how this can change the ecosystem for at least two other organisms.
Fish gain habitat.
Frogs have more breeding areas.
Some trees die because they're flooded.
Birds and insects move into the new wetland.
Polar bears have white fur and black skin. Explain how each helps them survive.
White fur provides camouflage; black skin absorbs heat from sunlight.
Some fish change color depending on where they live. Is this an adaptation or an immediate response to the environment? Explain.
An immediate response (if the same individual changes color). Adaptations occur over many generations.
Name three animals that are BOTH predator and prey AND list three animals that are omnivores.
BOTH: Foxes, Snakes, Frogs, Owls, Dolphins, or ALL animals once humans are added.
Omnivores: Bears, Pigs, Raccoons, Foxes, Monitor Lizards, Humans, Birds, Possums, etc.
What is Miss Susan's favorite color and animal?
Scientists remove all the wolves from an ecosystem. Predict two long-term changes that could occur.
Herbivore populations increase.
Plants decrease due to overgrazing.
Soil erosion increases.
Biodiversity decreases.
Smaller predators may increase.
The ecosystem becomes less balanced.
A population of insects slowly changes color over many generations because darker insects survive better. What process caused this change?
Natural selection.
A species loses its camouflage because pollution changes the color of tree bark. Predict what will happen over many generations.
Individuals with better camouflage will survive and reproduce more, leading to natural selection and a shift in the population.
Create the most likely food chain using these organisms:
Sun, Hawk, Grass, Mouse, Snake, Mushroom, Fox
Sun → Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
Mushroom is a decomposer that breaks down dead organisms and returns nutrients to the soil.
Other than the platypus, what is the ONLY other mammal that can lay eggs?
Echidnas aka spiny anteaters