Energy Flow (6.10A, 6.10B, 6.10C)
What is the original source of energy for most ecosystems? (6.10A)
The Sun
What is biodiversity, and why is it important in an ecosystem? (6.11A)
Biodiversity is the variety of life. It helps ecosystems stay healthy and stable.
What are the basic parts of a plant and animal cell? (6.12A)
Nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, vacuole, mitochondria; plants also have cell wall and chloroplasts.
What is heredity? (6.13A)
The passing of traits from parents to offspring.
What tool would you use to observe a cell? (Review of lab tools)
A Microscope
What is the role of a decomposer in a food web? (6.10B)
Decomposers break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil.
How can the introduction of a non-native species affect an ecosystem? (6.11B)
It can disrupt the balance by competing with native species or becoming invasive.
Which cell part controls what enters and exits the cell? (6.12A)
Cell Membrane
What is the difference between inherited and acquired traits? (6.13A, 6.13C)
Inherited traits are passed through genes (eye color), acquired traits are learned or from the environment (riding a bike).
What is one example of a producer in a marine ecosystem?
Phytoplankton or seaweed.
Label the parts of this food web: producer, consumer, and decomposer. (6.10A, 6.10B)
Producers make their own food (like plants), consumers eat other organisms, decomposers break down dead matter.
Describe one example of a short-term environmental change. (6.11B)
A drought or flood.
What body system includes the brain and spinal cord? (6.12B)
Nervous System
Give an example of a learned behavior and an inherited trait. (6.13C)
Learned: speaking a language; Inherited: hair color.
Name a system in the human body and explain its function.
Circulatory system – moves blood and nutrients through the body.
Explain how energy flows from one organism to another in a food chain. (6.10C)
Energy flows from producers to consumers (herbivores → carnivores → omnivores), and then to decomposers.
Describe one example of a long-term environmental change. (6.11B)
Climate change or a volcanic eruption that changes habitat permanently.
How do the respiratory and circulatory systems work together? (6.12C)
The respiratory system brings in oxygen, which the circulatory system delivers to cells.
Give an example of a learned behavior and an inherited trait. (6.13C)
Dominant traits show if present; recessive traits only show if both genes are recessive.
What happens to energy as it moves up a food chain?
It decreases; only about 10% is passed to the next level.
If a predator is removed from a food web, what might happen to the population of prey? (6.10C)
The prey population may increase, which can unbalance the ecosystem.
Predict how a decrease in biodiversity could impact a food web. (6.11A, 6.11B)
It could cause population imbalances and food chain disruptions.
Identify a major organ from the digestive system and explain its function. (6.12B)
Stomach – breaks down food with acids and enzymes.
Use a Punnett square to predict the probability of a trait in offspring. (6.13B)
(Provide example like Bb x Bb → 75% brown eyes, 25% blue eyes.)
Create your own food web using at least 5 organisms
Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk