MS-LS2-2: Ecosystem Interactions

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living environment, such as air, water, and soil.

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Example: A pond ecosystem showing fish, plants, and water interacting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

Food Web Noun

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[food web]

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Food Web

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A model showing the complex network of feeding relationships and the flow of energy within an entire ecosystem.

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Example: A diagram showing trophic levels in a food web, illustrating energy flow and relationships.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Producer Noun

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[pruh-doo-ser]

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Producer

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An organism, like a plant or algae, that creates its own food and forms the base of a food web.

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Example: The image shows how plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce food, demonstrating the role of producers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

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Consumer Noun

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[kuhn-soo-mer]

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Consumer

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An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms in an ecosystem.

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Example: The image shows consumers at different levels of a food pyramid, illustrating how organisms obtain energy by feeding on others.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Decomposer Noun

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[dee-kuhm-poh-zer]

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Decomposer

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An organism that breaks down dead organic matter, returning essential nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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Example: Decomposers like fungi and insects break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Organism Noun

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[or-guh-niz-uhm]

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Organism

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An individual living being, such as a plant, animal, fungus, or single-celled life form.

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Example: An amoeba is a single-celled organism, illustrating the concept of an organism as a living being.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

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Predator Noun

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[pred-uh-ter]

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Predator

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An animal that naturally hunts, kills, and eats other animals for its food.

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Example: A cheetah chasing a wildebeest shows how predators hunt for food.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Prey Noun

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[prey]

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Prey

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An animal that is hunted and killed for food by another animal, known as a predator.

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Example: A fox approaching a rabbit shows the rabbit as prey in a predator-prey relationship.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Competition Noun

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[kom-pi-tish-uhn]

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Competition

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The struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resources.

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Example: Two animals competing for resources, showing the struggle for survival.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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Population Noun

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[pop-yoo-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of individuals of the same species that live and interbreed within a specific area.

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Example: The image shows a group of animals living together in a habitat, illustrating the concept of a population.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4