Organisms in Their Environment

Food Chains/Webs

100

True or False: Some animals are both predators and prey.

TRUE Some animals like snakes are both predators AND prey.

200

What is the role of different plants in the food web? A. producer B. decomposer C. predator D. consumer

A. Plants are PRODUCERS

300

How do animals depend on plants for survival?

Animals eat plants AND other animals that eat plants for food. Everything is connected in some way to plants.

400

You are on a camping trip with your family and wrote in your notebook your observations of plants and animals and how they interact. Draw a food chain 3 links long from your trip.

Food chain MUST start with a plant (PRODUCER) and arrows MUST flow in the direction of the energy transfer.

500

All summer you have been watching squirrels gather acorns in your backyard and take them up the oak tree. Someone chopped down the oak tree in your backyard. Tell what would happen when the tree is gone.

-There would be a decrease in the food supply -Squirrel population in the yard would decrease -Squirrels would move to a new location

Physical Characteristics

100

One frog in our aquarium has longer back legs than another frog in our aquarium. How does the difference in the size of one frogs back legs gives it an advantage over the other frogs? A. The frog will get too big and have to move to another habitat B. The other frogs of the same kind will not accept the larger frog C. The frog will able to move faster to get food and escape danger D. The frog will be able to live longer than the other frogs

C. The frog will able to move faster to get food and escape danger if it has longer back legs. This gives it an advantage for survival.

200

A beavers tail is adapted to help it move swiftly through the water when swimming. Which of the following kinds of feet would the beaver most likely have? A. with claws B. webbed C. small D. hairy

B. the beaver would have webbed feet to move fast through the water and escape from predators.

300

What advantage would a beaver have over other beavers if its tail and feet were larger than the other beavers?

It would be able to swim faster to avoid predators and make its dam

400

Tell us ONE physical characteristic one frog might have that help it to survive better than others. Tell the physical characteristic AND the advantage of survival it gives that frog.

-long hind legs--> for swimming fast -webbed feet-->for swimming, catching food, run from predators -camouflage skin--> hide from predators -eyes on the side of the head-->to watch for predators -claws on feet-->to defend itself -small body-->to hide from predators

500

Tell what might happen if a frog did NOT have camouflaged skin.

The frog could not hide as well from predators, it would be easier to find therefore it would not have as good of a chance for survival as a frog WITH camouflage skin.

Needs for Survival

100

Choose the list that BEST describes what plants AND animals need to survive. A. environment, habitat, space and sunlight B. food, air, oxygen, space and water C. soil, water, sunlight, food and air D. air, water, sunlight and a source of food or energy

D. air, water, sunlight and a source of food or energy ANIMALS need: air, water, food PLANTS need: air, water, sunlight

200

Which of the following is the BEST list to include in an earthworms habitat? A. water, rocks, clay, bright light B. leaves, soil, water, air C. lettuce, sand, air, light D. plants, rocks, newspaper, air

B. leaves, soil, water, air Animals need WATER, FOOD and AIR

300

Look at the Venn Diagram on the screen to determine what both plants and animals need to survive.

Both plants and animals need air, water, space, minerals and a food source to survive.

400

Make a list of what PLANTS need to survive and a list of what ANIMALS need to survive. Plants:_____, _____, _____ Animals:____, _____,_____

Plants: air, water, sunlight (to make their own food) Animals: air, water, food

500

Our science class went on a walk through the woods. We made observations of plant growth. You noticed very little plant growth under the larger trees along the trail. Describe what environmental conditions might cause the lack of plant growth under the trees. (Why aren't things growing under the large trees?)

-Plants require sunlight to make their own food -plants require water SO -tree branches block sufficient sunlight for growth -tree branches block water (rain) to support plant growth

Environmental Effects

100

Cutting down trees in a forest will: A. have very little effect on the living things in the ecosystem B. only affect animals that live in the ecosystem C. affect most of the plants and animals in the ecosystem D. only affects animals that live in trees of the ecosystem

C. affect most of the plants and animals in the ecosystem

200

The trees in the vacant lot in your neighborhood were cut down. You and your neighbors notice more squirrels in the trees in their yards. Choose the answer that BEST describes the reason for the increase in the squirrel population. A. The squirrels reproduced rapidly in city neighborhoods B. The predators moved away when the trees were cut down and the squirrel population increased C. The neighbors fed the squirrels after the trees were cut down D. The squirrels moved to a new location after the trees were cut down

D. The squirrels moved to a new location after the trees were cut down so the population in you yards increased. Their home was destroyed so they had to move to a new spot, increasing the population.

300

What environmental concerns should be raised from cutting down trees to build a restaurant and parking lot?

Effects on the balance in nature and populations of species that lived there. There are lots of environmental effects of cutting down trees.

400

At the end of your neighborhood street there was a large vacant lot with a field and a group of large trees. A new mall was put on the lot. All of the trees but two were cut down. The end of the street now floods after it rains. Why?

The end of the street floods because the area around the mall can no longer absorb all of the water. Before the trees were cut down, they would help absorb the water when it rained. Now, it just floods with no trees there.

500

You and a partner were investigating the effect of sunlight on ferns and flowers. How would you set up your investigation? A. Grow several plants under the same conditions but change the air temperature for each plant by adjusting the amount of light B. Put two ferns outdoors and two flowers indoors and water them equally. Record the number of sunny days and rainy days C. Place one of each plant in an area with sunlight and one of each plant in an area without sunlight. Keep all other conditions the same D. Grow several plants under various sunlight conditions. Keep the amount of fertilizer used the same for each plant

C. Place one of each plant in an area with sunlight and one of each plant in an area without sunlight. Keep all other conditions the same This way you will be able to tell the effect that sunlight had on plant growth.

Definitions

100

What is the definition of a producer? A. a living thing whose food comes from other living things B. a living thing that breaks down waste and plant and animal remains for its source of energy C. an organism that makes its own food D. an animals that hunts and eats other animals

C. an organism that makes its own food is called a PRODUCER. Plants are producers.

200

Camouflage is: A. refers to the nutrients, minerals and proteins necessary for organisms to grow and maintain good health B. the specific color and markings that are visible on the outer coverings of animals C. the moving from one location to another D. the hiding or disguising of something, the outer covering of animals may be used to hide from predators

D. CAMOUFLAGE is the hiding or disguising of something, the outer covering of animals may be used to hide from predators

300

What is the definition of a food chain? Draw an example on the board of a food chain using arrows to show the flow of energy.

A food chain describes the way food passes from one organism to another. One organism is dependent on another for food.

400

What is the definition of predator? Give an example of a predator and explain how it is connected to producers.

A predator is an animal that hunts and eats other animals. Examples: bear, whale, eagle, owl etc. Predators are connected to producers even though they are eating them directly. They eat animals, who eat producers, therefore they rely on producers too.

500

What is the definition of advantage? Give an example of an advantage one frog might have over another in our classroom habitat and how that advantage helps it to survive.

Advantage: when an organism has a superior or greater ability for survival. A frog may have longer hind legs helping it swim faster, better webbed feet helping it swim faster and catch food easier, better camouflage helping it hide from predators better or sharper claws helping it defend itself better.