Science Ecosystems

Define: Ecosystem

• Where organisms live

• A community of organisms and their environment, including living and non-living things

• The environment of an area

• A model showing how energy moves through a food chain

Define: Biotic

• An organism that gets its food from other organisms

• Non living things in an ecosystem

• An organism that gets its nutrients from sunlight

• Living things in an ecosystem

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

Decomposer

• An organism that decomposes organic material (example: mushroom)

• An organism that gets its food from sunlight

• An organism that gets its food from other organisms

• A organism that eats meat

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Define: Abiotic

• Living things in an ecosystem

• An organism that gets its food from other organisms

• Non Living things in an ecosystem

• An organism that get its nutrients from the sun

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

• Geothermal heat

• The Sun

• Wind

• Water currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What reasoning would you use to explain why biodiversity is typically higher in a rainforest than in a desert?

• Rainforests have more sunlight.

• Deserts are cooler than rainforests.

• Rainforests have more varied resources and stable climates that support diverse species.

• Rainforests are larger in area than deserts.

Tags

DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

What is the primary function of chlorophyll in the ecosystems?

• To absorb water

• To produce carbon dioxide

• To absorb sunlight

• To release oxygen

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Design an experiment to test the effect of sunlight on plant growth in different ecosystems.

• Plant seeds in identical pots under different light conditions and measure growth over a month.

• Plant seeds in the dark and observe for a day.

• Compare plant growth by reading a textbook.

• Ask others about their plant growth observations.

Tags

DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

How would you investigate the impact of pH levels on aquatic life in a freshwater biome?

• Read articles about freshwater biomes.

• Change the pH of a water sample and observe the behavior of aquatic organisms.

• Visit a freshwater biome once.

• Draw pictures of aquatic organisms.

Tags

DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Plan a project to analyze the effects of deforestation on local biomes.

• Write a poem about trees.

• Measure tree heights in a deforested area vs. a non-deforested area over a year.

• Watch a documentary on forests.

• Paint a picture of a forest.

Tags

DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking