Roles in the Ecosystem
The most basic level of classification, referring to a single living thing.
What is an organism?
Mutualism, Commensalism, or Parasitism? A tick living on a deer.
What is Parasitism (win-lose)?
This plant category includes mosses and liverworts.
What are Non-Vascular plants?
The defining feature all vertebrates possess.
What is a backbone or spinal column?
A non-native species that causes harm to a local environment, economy, or human health.
What is an Invasive Species?
A group of different populations (e.g., rabbits, foxes, and trees) living and interacting in the same area
What is a community?
A relationship where one species benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
What is Commensalism?
This type of plant produces its seeds inside of an ovary, which often develops into fruit.
What is a Flowering plant?
Name two different types of invertebrates.
What are insects, spiders, worms, jellyfish, or snails?
The process where living things change over time to develop characteristics that allow them to survive better in their environment.
What is Evolution?
List the three main roles in an ecosystem's energy flow, in order, starting with the one that creates its own food.
What are Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers?
In a food web, what happens if a part of it is removed or missing?
The whole chain will start to fall apart and stop functioning properly.
What do vascular plants have that non-vascular plants (like moss) do not?
What are internal tubes or veins (for transporting water and nutrients)?
Give two distinct reasons why an insect is classified as an invertebrate.
What are it lacks a backbone and has an exoskeleton (or has its skeleton on the outside)?
The random difference in DNA among members of the same species (e.g., different fur colors).
What is Genetic Variation?
An organism that eats dead or decaying matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
What is a Decomposer?
Explain why the relationship between bees and flowering plants is considered Mutualism.
What is because both species benefit (Bees get nectar, and the plant gets pollinated)?
Give an example of a non-flowering vascular plant.
What is a Fern or a Pine Tree?
Name three different classes of vertebrates.
What are Mammals, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, or Birds?
Explain how the Emerald Ash Borer harms the local ecosystem (D3.2).
What is it kills Ash trees, reducing biodiversity and habitat for native species?
All the non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) things that surround an organism and supply its needs. (where they all live)
What is a Habitat?
Name the primary consumer in this chain: Grass -Grasshopper - Frog -Hawk.
What is the Grasshopper?
Why can non-vascular plants only grow in very moist environments and usually stay short?
What is because they must absorb water directly through their surfaces (they lack internal transport systems)?
Describe the key difference between an amphibian and a reptile (both are vertebrates).
What is a Reptile has dry skin and lays eggs on land, while an Amphibian has moist skin and lays eggs in water?
Why would a rabbit population with no genetic variation be doomed if the climate suddenly got colder?
What is because none of the rabbits would have the resistant genes (like thick fur) needed to survive and pass on the trait?