Vocabulary
Patterns of changing over time
Trend
Which statement best explains how increasing palm oil production affects different animal populations in a rainforest ecosystem?
A. As oil palm plantations expand, populations of orangutans and tigers decrease, while populations of animals like rats, pigs, and snakes increase.
B. As more oil palm trees are planted, all animal populations increase because there is more food available for every species.
C. Cutting down rainforests for oil palm has no effect on animal populations because animals can easily adapt to any environment.
D. Oil palm plantations only affect plant life and do not change the populations of animals living in the ecosystem.
Answer:
A. As oil palm plantations expand, populations of orangutans and tigers decrease, while populations of animals like rats, pigs, and snakes increase.
Many foods and products contain oils that come from farmed crops. To grow these crops, native plants are often removed to make space. Palm oil is commonly used because it requires less land to produce compared to other oils.
Question:
Using the information above, explain one reason people might choose to grow palm oil crops instead of other types of oil crops, and describe one possible impact this choice could have on the environment.
People may grow palm oil because it needs less land than other oils. However, this can harm the environment by removing native plants and reducing animal habitats.
Lesson 1: How could buying candy affect orangutan populations in the wild?
Palm oil is widely used in many products, so rainforests are cut down to grow more oil palm trees. This causes orangutan and tiger populations to decrease, while populations of rats, pigs, and snakes increase because the new environment provides resources they can use.
A type of organism that feeds on dead or decaying material to gain energy
Decomposer
Which statement is NOT true about how changes in the amount of resources affect populations?
A. Organisms with similar food needs compete with each other when resources are limited.
B. A lack of access to resources can limit growth and reproduction in populations.
C. Populations always grow steadily because resource availability stays the same every year.
D. Changes in resource availability can cause populations to fluctuate over time.
Answer:
C. Populations always grow steadily because resource availability stays the same every year.
Why are oil palm plants often grown in the same locations as tropical rainforests near the equator, and how do environmental conditions in these areas support their growth?
Oil palm plants are grown near the equator because these regions have the warm temperatures, rainfall, and sunlight they need to grow. These same conditions also support tropical rainforests, which is why both are found in similar locations.
Lesson 8: Why do orangutans need so much forest space?
Orangutans need so much forest space because food resources are spread out, and they compete with other orangutans for high-energy foods. When resources are limited, having more space helps reduce competition and increases their chances of getting enough energy to survive and grow.
A type of animal that must eat another organism to get its nutrients and energy
Consumer
Which statement best explains how limited food resources affect orangutans within the same population?
A. When food is limited, orangutans stop competing and share all available resources equally so every individual gets enough energy.
B. Orangutans will only eat high-energy foods, so if those foods are not available, they will refuse to eat anything else and quickly leave the area.
C. When food is limited, competition between orangutans increases, and individuals that cannot get enough energy may have reduced growth or a lower chance of survival.
D. Limited food resources only affect young orangutans, while adult orangutans are not impacted by competition for food.
Answer:
C. When food is limited, competition between orangutans increases, and individuals that cannot get enough energy may have reduced growth or a lower chance of survival.
In a place like New York City, people have changed natural habitats by building skyscrapers, roads, and neighborhoods. Some plants and animals still live in the city, while others have disappeared. Explain how these human changes can affect local plant and animal populations in NYC.
In NYC, building cities removes natural habitats, which can cause some plants and animals to disappear because they lose space and resources. However, some species like pigeons, rats, and certain plants can still survive because they adapt to city environments or use available resources.
Lesson 10: How do changes in the amount of resources affect populations?
Changes in the amount of resources affect populations because organisms depend on those resources to grow, survive, and reproduce. When resources are limited, competition increases and population growth is constrained, while changes in resource availability can cause populations to rise, fall, or fluctuate over time.
A complex network of interconnecting and overlapping food relationships within an environment
Food web
Which statement best explains how planting oil palm affects different populations in an ecosystem?
A. Planting oil palm increases resources for all species equally, so every population grows at the same rate without any negative effects.
B. Planting oil palm creates more resources for some species, like rats and snakes, allowing their populations to grow, while other species like orangutans and tigers decline, which can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.
C. Planting oil palm only affects plant populations and has little to no impact on animal populations in the area.
D. Planting oil palm reduces competition between all species, allowing every population to survive without interacting with others.
Answer:
B. Planting oil palm creates more resources for some species, like rats and snakes, allowing their populations to grow, while other species like orangutans and tigers decline, which can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.
What are two criteria and two constraints for designing a better farm to benefit the farmers and orangutans?
Criteria:orangutan population increase, farmers make enough money from selling oil
Constraints: orangutans don't get harmed/killed, farmers don't use too much of the land for their farm
Lesson 11:How does planting oil palm affect other populations?
Planting oil palm increases resources for some species, so populations like rats (prey) and snakes (predators) grow larger in palm farms. However, it harms other populations like orangutans and tigers, and these changes can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem since all populations are connected.
changing how the land is used from one purpose to another
Which statement best explains why people continue to cut down tropical rainforests even though it harms the animals that live there?
A. People cut down rainforests mainly because they need land and resources for farming, building, and products like palm oil, even though it can damage habitats and reduce animal populations.
B. People cut down rainforests because doing so increases the number of animal species and improves biodiversity in all cases.
C. People cut down rainforests only for scientific research, and it does not have any long-term effects on animal habitats or populations.
D. People cut down rainforests because it allows all animal populations, including endangered species, to grow without competition.
Answer:
A. People cut down rainforests mainly because they need land and resources for farming, building, and products like palm oil, even though it can damage habitats and reduce animal populations.
Populations are made up of many individuals living in the same area, and both individuals and populations depend on having enough space. Explain how limited space can affect a population of organisms.
If space is limited, organisms may compete more for room to live and resources, which can slow down growth and make it harder for the population to increase. This can also affect individual survival because there may not be enough space for all organisms to meet their needs.
Lesson 12: What would happen if orangutans go extinct?
If orangutans go extinct, it could disrupt the balance of the rainforest ecosystem because they are part of the food web. This may cause changes in fruit tree populations and affect other organisms that depend on those trees for food, leading to wider impacts throughout the ecosystem.