Science Lab: Unleashed! 2.4, 2.5, 2.6

Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans that look like small lobsters. They are found in many parts of the world. Crayfish typically reproduce sexually, but the marbled crayfish reproduces asexually.

The marbled crayfish was first discovered in an aquarium in 1995 and was not originally found in the wild. Since then, it has been released into the wild. Because the marbled crayfish can reproduce asexually, a single crayfish can start a new population in the wild. It has become an invasive species across Europe and in parts of Africa.

Madagascar is an island about 400 km off the coast of Eastern Africa. In 2003, the marbled crayfish was introduced to Madagascar. Since then, it has spread quickly across Madagascar and lives in the same areas where several native crayfish species live. The native crayfish species reproduce sexually.

An aquatic food web with the marbled crayfish is shown. Identify the ecological role of the marbled crayfish.

• decomposer

• producer

• primary consumer

• secondary consumer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans that look like small lobsters. They are found in many parts of the world. Crayfish typically reproduce sexually, but the marbled crayfish reproduces asexually.

The marbled crayfish was first discovered in an aquarium in 1995 and was not originally found in the wild. Since then, it has been released into the wild. Because the marbled crayfish can reproduce asexually, a single crayfish can start a new population in the wild. It has become an invasive species across Europe and in parts of Africa.

Madagascar is an island about 400 km off the coast of Eastern Africa. In 2003, the marbled crayfish was introduced to Madagascar. Since then, it has spread quickly across Madagascar and lives in the same areas where several native crayfish species live. The native crayfish species reproduce sexually.

An aquatic food web with the marbled crayfish is shown. Identify the organism in the food web that has the most available energy.

• Algae

• Mosquito larvae

• Common carp

• Dragonfly larvae

• Marbled crayfish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

An energy pyramid for an ecosystem is shown.

Based on the energy pyramid, how much energy would be stored in the tertiary consumers in this ecosystem?

• 2000 kcal

• 200 kcal

• 20 kcal

• 2 kcal

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

An energy pyramid for an ecosystem is shown.

Select two factors that are responsible for the inefficiency of energy transfer from one trophic level to another.

• Carnivores obtain energy from consumers only.

• Organisms lose energy to the environment as heat.

• Some parts of organisms are not eaten by consumers.

• Omnivores get energy from producers and consumers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

In North America, the populations of six species of bats have decreased by up to 99% since 2006. These decreases in population sizes are largely due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS is caused by a fungus that infects the skin on bats’ wings, ears, and noses. The infected skin, which often appears white, loses more water than healthy, normal skin.

One species of bat affected by WNS is the little brown bat. This bat has a very small mass (about 14 g) and hunts for flying insects at night. Females typically give birth to one offspring per year.

In preparation for winter, little brown bats eat more insects to build up fat reserves in their bodies. In winter, they hibernate, which decreases body temperature, breathing rate, and metabolic rate. The bats do not eat while they are hibernating.

Little brown bats typically wake up only for brief periods of time during hibernation. When a bat does wake up, its body temperature increases as it flies around.

WNS affects the number of times that a bat wakes up during hibernation. Healthy bats wake up once every 20 days, and about 80% survive hibernation. Bats infected with WNS wake up once every 9 days, and only about 4% survive hibernation.

A partial food web for the little brown bat’s ecosystem is shown.

According to the food web, little brown bats belong to which of the following trophic levels?

• producers

• primary consumers

• secondary consumers

• tertiary consumers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In North America, the populations of six species of bats have decreased by up to 99% since 2006. These decreases in population sizes are largely due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS is caused by a fungus that infects the skin on bats’ wings, ears, and noses. The infected skin, which often appears white, loses more water than healthy, normal skin.

One species of bat affected by WNS is the little brown bat. This bat has a very small mass (about 14 g) and hunts for flying insects at night. Females typically give birth to one offspring per year.

In preparation for winter, little brown bats eat more insects to build up fat reserves in their bodies. In winter, they hibernate, which decreases body temperature, breathing rate, and metabolic rate. The bats do not eat while they are hibernating.

Little brown bats typically wake up only for brief periods of time during hibernation. When a bat does wake up, its body temperature increases as it flies around.

WNS affects the number of times that a bat wakes up during hibernation. Healthy bats wake up once every 20 days, and about 80% survive hibernation. Bats infected with WNS wake up once every 9 days, and only about 4% survive hibernation.

A partial food web for the little brown bat’s ecosystem is shown.

A decrease in the population size of which of the following organisms would most directly reduce the bats’ ability to survive hibernation?

• frog

• moth

• owl

• plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Carbon cycles through living and nonliving parts of the environment. The process of ______________________ stores carbon while the processes of ______________________ and combustion release carbon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

A student drew a model to represent the carbon cycle, as shown. The arrows represent four processes in the carbon cycle.

Select two changes the student could make to improve the model.

• Draw an arrow from the fossil fuels pointing to the factory, since fossil fuels provide energy to the factory.

• Draw an arrow from the forest pointing to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, since plants perform photosynthesis.

• Draw arrows from the forest and animals pointing to the decomposers, since decomposers break down dead organisms.

• Draw an arrow from the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere pointing to the animals, since animals perform cellular respiration.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Adélie penguins are well adapted to Antarctica’s cold climate. They eat fish off the coast of Antarctica and build nests on land. The average temperature in Antarctica has been increasing. Scientists claim that if this trend continues, it may have a negative effect on the penguins’ ability to survive. 

Which of the following best supports the scientists’ claim?

• Melting ice will decrease the concentration of salt in the ocean.

• Increasing ocean temperatures will reduce fish population sizes.

• Increasing air temperatures will allow more plant species to grow.

• Melting snow will increase the size of the area where the penguins live.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Kudzu is an invasive plant that can grow as much as one foot in a day. A partial food web for an ecosystem is shown. Suppose kudzu invades this ecosystem.

Select an organisms that would most likely compete with kudzu in this ecosystem.

• Grass

• Squirrel

• Deer

• Coyote

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4