Ecosystems
What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?
A habitat is where an organism lives, while a niche is its role or job in the ecosystem.
Why do birds have different beak shapes?
Different beaks are adapted for different food sources and feeding methods.
Which animal is LEAST likely to rely on camouflage?
A. Stick insect
B. Leopard
C. Peacock
D. Snowshoe hare
C. Peacock
Which trophic level contains the most energy?
Producers.
How tall is Otto?
5'9"
Why would removing all insects from a forest have a much larger impact than most people expect?
Many insects pollinate plants, decompose dead matter, and serve as food for many animals.
Which adaptation would most help a fox survive in the Arctic?
A. Long ears
B. Thin fur
C. Thick white fur
D. Bright orange fur
C. Thick white fur
How can stripes help a zebra survive?
The stripes make it harder for predators to focus on one individual in a moving herd.
If there are fewer producers in an ecosystem, which trophic level is affected first?
Primary consumers (herbivores).
This human body part stays the same size from birth
Eyeballs
A lake suddenly becomes polluted with fertilizer from nearby farms. What process may occur because algae grow rapidly and use up oxygen?
An algal bloom (eutrophication), which can lead to fish dying from lack of oxygen.
Why are nocturnal animals often equipped with large eyes or excellent hearing?
To help them find food and avoid predators in low-light conditions.
A caterpillar looks exactly like a bird dropping. What survival strategy is it using?
Camouflage (disguise).
A hawk eats snakes, rabbits, and mice. What does this tell you about the hawk's position in a food web?
It has multiple food sources and may occupy different feeding relationships within the web.
What is Ms. C's first name?
Shannon
What is biodiversity, and why is it important?
Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an ecosystem. High biodiversity makes ecosystems healthier and more resilient to change.
Some desert animals are active only at night. What type of adaptation is this?
A behavioral adaptation.
Why might an octopus change both its color and skin texture?
To better blend into different surroundings and avoid predators or surprise prey.
Why do top predators usually have much smaller populations than herbivores?
Only about 10% of energy is passed to each trophic level, so there isn't enough energy to support many top predators.
This is the only U.S. state that grows coffee
Hawaii
Why are keystone species considered more important than many other species?
They have a major impact on their ecosystem, and removing them can drastically change or even collapse the ecosystem.
How could climate change make some adaptations less effective?
If environments change too quickly, adaptations that once helped organisms survive may no longer provide an advantage.
An animal has excellent camouflage but reproduces very slowly. Why might it still become endangered?
Because camouflage cannot protect it from habitat loss, disease, climate change, or human activities, and slow reproduction makes recovery difficult.
A disease wipes out almost every grasshopper in a grassland. Name two organisms that would likely increase and two that would likely decrease.
Possible increases:
Grass
Other plants
Possible decreases:
Frogs
Birds
Lizards
Spiders (if they rely heavily on grasshoppers)
What is Miss Susan's favorite ice cream flavor
Strawberry OR Mint Chip OR Coffee Oreo