What in this pond ecosystem makes up its physical environment?

The physical environment is the non-living things in an ecosystem: In this ecosystem there is the mud at the bottom of the pond, the water, the air and the sunlight.

Which living thing is the herbivore in this desert ecosystem?

The rabbit is the herbivore since it only eats plants.

In this marine ecosystem the sea stars and the crabs have their own special _______________ or special place within the ecosystem.

Habitat

The wolves in Yellowstone National Park are hunting in packs to kill Elk. This behavior is an ________________ characteristic to help them survive.

Adaptive

How do plants in a forest ecosystem depend on their physical environment in order to survive?

There are several correct answers:

** The air provides carbon dioxide for photosynthesis

** The soil allows roots to grow and obtain nutrients

** Water is necessary for photosynthesis

** Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis to occur

What are the three characteristics that scientists use to classify ecosystems into different types?

1) Climate

2) How much water (rainfall) there is

3) Soil type

What type of ecosystem, pictured here, receives the most amount of rainfall of any other ecosystem. It is also warm year round. In these ecosystems, there are more different forms of plant and animal than in any other. 

Tropical Rainforest

Animals in a temperate forest ecosystem need to adapt to changing climates. Many animals sleep for the winter. This adaptive behavior is known as________________.  Other animals fly south to find food. This adaptive behavior is known as ______________.

Hibernation

Migration

In a grassland ecosystem, the climate is drier than a ______________, but wetter than a ____________.

Forest

Desert

Animals in the desert ecosystem have adapted to the climate. Most are _________________, which means they only come out at night when it is cooler.

Nocturnal

These wolves interact with other animals in Yellowstone National Park's ecosystem. The interaction shown above with an elk is known as _________________________.

Predator and Prey Interaction:

The wolf is the predator and the elk is the prey

In Ohio there are too many deer for the available food resources and space. When populations of animals outgrow resources, many die. The struggle for survival with one another is known as ______________________.

Competition

This dragonfly is a fierce predator, able to eat many mosquitoes.  Name an adaptive characteristic that allows the dragonfly to kill so many prey.

There are several possible answers:

Its eyes have multiple lenses allowing it to see very well

Its double set of wings allow it to fly in many directions quickly to catch prey

It has a special mouthpiece to help it catch prey

This porcupine has an adaptive characteristic to help it survive.  What is that characteristic?

Quills, or sharp spikes, that it can shoot toward a possible predator.

A vole is a small rodent that eats fungus from rotting logs. The vole moves the fungus spores from log to log, helping to spread the fungus. What type of ecosystem interaction is this an example of?

Cooperation

In this diagram, which living organism is present in the fewest numbers? Why?

The eagle, or top predator, is present in fewest numbers because energy is lost as you go up the pyramid.

In the diagram shown, where is most of the energy found?

Most of the energy is found at the bottom of the diagram, which represents the producers (plants).

The diagram above represents a _________ __________.

Food Chain

The diagram above represents many overlapping food chains, known as a ___________ _________.

Food web

How are these living organisms part of the ecosystem energy pyramid? 

These fungi are decomposers, which recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals. Decomposers help create soil for plants to grow and begin the cycle again.

Earthworms dig tunnels through the soil and leave waste material behind. This loosens the soil and makes it more fertile for plants to grow. What type of change is this for its ecosystem?

This is a beneficial (helpful) change.

When humans cut down trees to build shopping centers or other types of development, this destroys animal habitat. What type of change is this for the ecosystem?

This is a harmful change.

This ivory-billed woodpecker was not able to adapt to a changing environment after humans destroyed its habitat. It is now thought to be ___________________.

Extinct

How do scientists know that the Sahara desert was once the bottom of a vast sea?

Scientists have found fossils, or impressions in rocks, left by ancient sea animals.

Scientists believe that 65 million years ago, a giant meteor crashed into the Earth's surface. This meteor created huge clouds of dust that blocked out much of the Earth's sunlight. How did this change ecosystems on earth?

The dinosaurs were not longer able to adapt and became extinct. We only know of them now because of the fossils they left behind.

What consumer eats both plants and animals?

An omnivore