Vocabulary
The term for all living and nonliving things interacting in an area
Ecosystem
A single living thing, such as one zebra
Organism
Lions hunt zebras for food. Which organism is the predator?
The lion
The protection of nature and natural resources
Conservation
On a graph showing sunlight hours and plant height, which variable belongs on the x-axis?
Hours of sunlight per day, the independent variable.
All members of the same species living in one area
Population
A nonliving factor, such as sunlight, water, or temperature
Abiotic
A drought dries up a watering hole. Name one abiotic factor that changed
Water availability
The initiative that aims to conserve 30% of Earth's land and water by 2030
30 by 30 Initiative
On that same graph, which variable belongs on the y-axis?
Plant height in centimeters, the dependent variable.
A living factor in an ecosystem, such as grass or a lion
Biotic
All the different populations living and interacting in one area
Community
A scientist counts all wildebeest in one area. What population information is being collected?
Population size or abundance.
A population declines because its food supply decreases. Identify the limiting factor
Food availability
A graph's plant-height values are 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16 cm as sunlight increases. Describe the relationship
Plant height increases as sunlight increases
The place where an organism lives
Habitat
The broadest level of biological organization, including all ecosystems on Earth
Biosphere
The grass disappears from part of the Serengeti. Explain one possible effect on zebras
Zebras may have less food, reducing survival or population size.
A wildlife population grows beyond the resources available. What may happen over time?
Competition may increase and the population may decline or stop growing.
A graph has numbered marks at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 10, with equal spacing between marks. What is wrong?
The numerical scale is not evenly spaced.
The maximum population an environment can support with available resources
Carrying capacity
A prolonged lack of rainfall changes water availability. Identify this type of factor and explain why
It is an abiotic factor because water availability is nonliving
A grassland becomes farmland. Predict two possible ecosystem changes
Habitat loss and reduced wildlife populations, biodiversity, or food availability
Before helping a declining wildlife population, name two questions scientists should investigate
Examples: Is food or water limited? Is habitat being lost? Are disease or human activities affecting the population?
Plant heights are 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16 cm at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours of sunlight. Predict the height at 12 hours if the pattern continues
About 19 cm, based on the pattern of increasing 3 cm for every 2 additional hours.