Vocabulary
What does the word "organisms" refer to in the text?
Living things such as animals, plants, and insects.
What happens to plants and animals when they die according to the text?
They fall to the ground and are broken down by tiny insects and other organisms.
Why are small organisms important according to E. O. Wilson?
They are the heart of life on Earth and without them, our world would be a very different place.
Define the term "nutrients."
Substances that provide things for growth of life.
What did David Liittschwager do to study ground organisms?
He placed a green 30-centimeter cube on the ground or in the water and counted and photographed the organisms that lived in or moved through the cube.
What was the purpose of David Liittschwager's study?
To learn more about ground organisms by counting and photographing them in different environments.
What is a "naturalist"?
A person who studies or is an expert in natural history, especially a zoologist or botanist.
After dead plants and animals are broken down, what happens to the nutrients?
The nutrients are returned to the soil and give living plants energy.
Why was it difficult for the team to identify the animals found in the coral reef cube?
Many of the animals were new species.
What does the word "miniature" mean in the context of the text?
Very small or tiny.
What did the team discover in the coral reef cube in Moorea, French Polynesia?
They discovered over 600 creatures, many of which were new species.
What environment did the team study in Costa Rica?
A tropical cloud forest.
Explain the term "cycle" as used in the text.
A series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
How many species that live in the tropical cloud forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica, are found nowhere else on Earth?
Almost 125 species.
What are the benefits of the cycle of life described in the text?
It returns nutrients to the soil, giving living plants energy, which helps maintain a healthy environment for humans and other animals.