Ecosystems Overview: A Study Guide

Lesson 1 and 2 Focus Question(s) 1. How do living things depend on each other? 2. How might a model help us in understanding relationships between living things in an ecosystem? 3. In what ways is the relationship between living and nonliving things important to an ecosystem? Ecology *Ecosystem *Environment Food chain Model Organism An area of science focused on the relationship of living things to each other and their natural environment An interconnected community that includes all of the living and non living things found in a certain area Everything that surrounds an organism and influences it. A graphic that traces energy flow in an ecosystem; for example: Sun → plans → fish → raccoon Representation of objects, processes, or phenomena that look like, function like, describe or explain the real thing. Living thing *Germination Process by which seeds swell up and begin to sprout and develop roots *Terrarium A closed glass or plastic container in which terrestrial organisms can live and be observed *Terrestrial Having to do with the land or the Earth **ecology, model, food chain and organism will not be on the first quiz but are good to know as they are words that will be used on a daily basis in the classroom. They will be on future tests Words with a * by them indicate they are on the first vocabulary test. Lesson 3 Focus Question(s) 1. What types of ecosystems exist on land and what kinds of organisms can we expect to find in these terrestrial ecosystems? 2. How does energy flow through an ecosystem from one organism to another? *Adaptation A change in order to fit in a new situation or use. There are two types: Behavioral and Structural - need to be able to recognize examples of both. Ex: Behavioral (actions animals take to survive their environments) migration, hibernation, instincts Ex: Structural (a change in a plant or animal’s body that helps it survive)l: porcupine quills help protect it. Monkeys have long tails to help them swing through trees. *biodiversity *carnivore Wide variety of organisms A consumer that gets its energy by eating only meat consumer An organism that gets its energy from eating other organisms *fertile Rich in nutrients; often used to describe soil forest An area of land densely populated with trees *grassland A large, flat area of land which is mostly populated by tall grasses and few trees *rainforest An area of land that receives much precipitation and is very warm in climate *herbivore A consumer which gets its energy by eating only plants *omnivore A consumer which gets its energy by eating both plants and animals *producer An organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis **forest and consumer will not be on the first quiz but are good to know as they are words that will be used on a daily basis in the classroom. They will be on future tests Words with a * by them indicate they are on the first vocabulary test. VOCAB TEST #1 will be on all the words listed above this point. Lesson 4, 5, 6, 7 Focus Question(s) 1. What is the role of plants and algae in an ecosystem? 2. How do organisms receive the Sun’s energy? 3. How does that energy move from one organism to another? 4. Why are different types of organisms important to the survival of an ecosystem? 5. What evidence do you have that both dependent and interdependent relationships exist in the ecosystems? aquatic Having to do with water aquarium A glass or plastic container in which aquatic organisms can live and be observed. photosynthesis The process in which plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to create sugar for themselves for food radiation Abiotic factors A way energy is transferred from the Sun to Earth Non-living things in an ecosystem such as light, air, soil Biotic factors Living things in an ecosystem such as plants and animals. Dependent relationships Relying on another; for example, plants rely on the sun for its light Interdependent relationships Relying on one another; for example, elodea is a producer and provides food for a snail. It also provides shelter for hiding and laying eggs and adds oxygen to the water. The snail eats the dead leaves and adds fertilizer in the form of feces. The snail also gives off carbon dioxide, which plants use for photosynthesis. Everyone benefits. ● ● ● ● Need to know which relationships in our eco-columns are dependent and interdependent. Should be able to explain how you know with evidence. Should be able to create a food chain and food web with a given biome. Need to be able to explain what would happen if an organism was removed from a given food chain or food web. How are the aquarium and terrarium dependent and interdependently related? Population A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place Community Made up of all different kinds of populations living in the same area habitat Physical space used by a population Decomposers Organisms such as fungi, worms, and bacteria that get energy by breaking down nutrients in dead organisms. (The recyclers) Food Chain Series of organisms in which energy is passed. A way to trace the Sun’s energy from one organism to another. Ex: Sun → grass → rabbit → fox Food web Niche scavengers photosynthesis Radiation A diagram of several connected food chains The role each animal plays within an ecosystem. Organisms that eat other dead animals and/or organisms The process by which plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to create sugar for themselves for food, as well as oxygen (*Note - this word may be used in questions containing the word ‘radiate’ - the sun “radiates”) - a way that heat energy can travel from Sun to Earth.