Vocabulary
Give an example of a Niche.
An organism's unique role it plays in its community.
The driest biome. Soil is dry with little nutrients. Plants must have shallow roots.
Desert.
M, C, or P?
A clownfish lives in anemone.
Mutualism!
What is the purpose of a food web or a food chain?
To show the transfer of energy and feeding relationships between organisms.
Give me an example of an Adaptation.
Answer must give an example of something structural, behavioral, or physiological that an organism has/does to help it survive.
Biome
A biome is a community of animals that has formed in response to the environment where they are found.
Grasses are the dominant species. Moderate temperatures. Soil is very fertile.
Prairie.
M, C, or P?
In the rainforest, an orchid grows up a tree.
Commensalism!
Why are decomposers so important to ecosystems?
They help cycle nutrients and energy through ecosystems by breaking down dead matter. If there were no decomposers, nutrients would be stuck in carcasses. Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Which organism causes the most damage to ecosystems across the world?
HUMANS!
Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms.
Warm and lots of rain. High biodiversity of species.
Rainforest.
M, C, or P?
A barnacle grows on a crabs shell.
Parasitism!
What 3 things could occur in an ecosystem if resources like food, water, or shelter become limited?
Organisms will be forced to leave the area, compete, or possibly become extinct.
Organize the 4 levels of organization in an Ecosystem from smallest to largest.
Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem
Primary Succession.
A new ecosystem is formed where nothing previously existed.
Northernmost forest biome. Long winters and short summers. Cone bearing trees.
Taiga.
Give me an example of a mutualistic relationship.
Answer must involve both species benefitting.
Algae, Shrimp, Fish, and Sharks live in a Marine Ecosystem. What would happen if the Algae population suddenly decreased?
It would create a chain reaction of a lack of food for shrimp, which leads to lack of food for fish, and then lack of food for sharks.
Which biome has the MOST biodiversity?
The rainforest or the ocean are acceptable answers.
Natural selection.
Organisms that are better suited for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Seasonal temperature changes with little rain. Forest trees, black bears, deer.
Temperate Deciduous Forest.
Answer must involve one species benefitting while the other is harmed.
Grass > Rabbit > Hawk
What would happen if a predator to the hawk was introduced?
Rabbit populations would increase.
Why is biodiversity important to the health and stability of an ecosystem?
The more diverse an ecosystem is, the better it will be able to adapt to change and sustain itself over time. Ecosystems with very little biodiversity struggle to maintain their populations. Any slight changes to the environment can cause a total collapse of the ecosystem.