Photosynthesis & Producers
What do producers need in order to make their own food?
Sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and space
What are producers in a food chain?
Plants that make their own food
What is a fossil?
Remains or impressions of organisms from the past
Why do desert plants have waxy leaves?
To reduce water loss
What are inherited traits?
Traits passed down from parents through genes
What process do plants use to create their food?
Photosynthesis
What is the role of consumers in a food web?
They eat other organisms to get energy
How do fossils form over time?
Organisms get trapped in sediment, buried, and preserved over millions of years
What helps rainforest plants survive with limited sunlight?
Large leaves and growing on top of other plants to reach sunlight
Give two examples of inherited traits in animals.
Hair color, eye color (others: number of limbs, height, etc.)
What gas do plants take in during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide
What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?
Break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil
What does finding fish fossils in Texas suggest?
The area was once underwater
How do tundra plants stay warm and avoid wind damage?
Small size, dark color, waxy coating, fuzzy texture, and shallow roots
What is an acquired trait?
A trait developed during an organism’s life due to environment or behavior
What sugar is produced by photosynthesis?
Glucose
What does an arrow in a food chain represent?
The flow of energy
What can layers of fossils tell us about the age of the Earth?
Deeper layers have older fossils; shallower layers have younger ones
Why do aquatic plants have flexible stems?
To move with water flow
Give two examples of acquired traits in plants.
Leaning toward light, color change from temperature (also: damage by insects)
How do plants contribute to the cycling of matter?
They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the environment
Why is the Sun important in a food web, even if it’s not shown?
It is the source of energy for all living things
How can fossils help us understand how organisms have adapted?
Fossils show past environments and how organisms changed to survive
Name one plant structure and how it helps the plant in its environment.
Example: Spines help desert plants keep water and protect from animals
How can you tell if a trait is inherited or acquired?
Inherited traits are passed through genes; acquired traits are learned or caused by environment