5.9A

Many animals in an ecosystem depend on other animals for—

• air

• energy

• shelter

• water

Many birds, such as hawks, have sharp claws called talons on their feet. Sharp talons help a hawk interact with which part of its environment?

• Water it drinks from streams

• Diseases that make it sick

• The animals it catches and eats

• The sunlight that warms it

Plants are interacting directly with another living component of their environment when they are—

• soaking up water.

• absorbing sunlight.

• attracting insects.

• taking in carbon dioxide.

Many plants depend on insects for pollination. Without pollination, these plants cannot produce seeds. Plants depend on insects to—

• produce offspring.

• grow new leaves.

• strengthen roots.

• make more food.

Frogs in a pond interact with both living and nonliving components in their ecosystem. Frogs interact with nonliving components when they—

• eat swimming insects for energy.

• lay their eggs in bodies of water.

• become food for another animal.

• hide beneath plants in the pond.