Ecology Vocabulary Review

Ecology Review

​Individual > Population > Community > Ecosystem > Biome > Biosphere

Organism Relationships

Producers

• ​obtain energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis

• eaten by herbivores and omnivores

• Examples: green plants, algae, and phytoplankton

NOT IN STAAR BOOKLET

Organism Relationships

Consumers

• obtain energy by eating other organisms

• can be classified as herbivores, carnivores or omnivores

• Examples: humans, sharks and bears

NOT IN STAAR BOOKLET

Organism Relationships

Predators

• hunts and kills other animals for food

• Examples: lions hunting a gazelle, seal hunting fish, frog hunting insects

NOT IN STAAR BOOKLET

Organism Relationships

Prey

• animals that are hunted and killed for food

• Examples: mice hunted by an owl, warm hunted by a bird, rabbit hunted by a fox

NOT IN STAAR BOOKLET

Organism Relationships

Parasite

• organisms that live in or on another organism and cause harm to it

• Examples: fleas, ticks and lice

NOT IN STAAR BOOKLET

Biodiversity

• Bio = life

• Diversity = different or variation

• Genetic Biodiversity - variation in genes within a variation

• Ecological Biodiversity - variation in ecosystems, communities and habitats

• A variety of species within genetic variations allows an ecosystem the ability to maintain a healthy environment

STAAR Booklet page 60

​Biodiversity Facts

• scientists have identified 1.7 million species on Earth

• some researchers have estimated that there could be between 3-30 million species on Earth

• over half of all the species identified are invertebrates (organisms without backbones)

​Importance of Biodiversity

• allows ecosystems to adjust to disturbance such as wildfire, flood or drought

• provides a variety of food sources for organisms

• genetic biodiversity helps species adjust to changes in their environment

STAAR Booklet page 60

Threats to Biodiversity

STAAR Booklet page 60

• habitat loss

• overfishing or overhunting

• spread of disease

• invasive species

• climate change

• pollution

Ecological Succession

• a series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time

• can take place in a relatively short time period an extremely long time

• 2 types of succession: primary and secondary

STAAR Booklet page 62

​Ecological Succession

Primary Succession:

• a series of community changes over a long period of time

• new ecosystem formed where nothing previously existed (no soil, plants or animals)

• process can take thousands of years

​Example:

an island formed from a volcanic eruption under the ocean's surface

STAAR Booklet page 62

Secondary Succession:

• a series of community changes over a relatively shorter period of time

• formation and regrowth of an ecosystem after a disturbance

• process can take hundreds of years

​Example: regrowth of a forest after a fire destroys it

​Cells Review

STAAR Booklet pages 36 and 37

an organism whose cells CONTAIN a nucleus and other organelles

​

​Eukaryotic

an organism whose cells LACK a nucleus and other organelles

Prokaryotic

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic

​Examples:

• bacteria

• archaea

​Examples:

• protists

• fungi

• plants

• animals

STAAR Booklet page 78

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT eukaryotic?

• Plants

• Fungi

• Bacteria

• Animals

an organism that is made up of many cells

Multicellular

an organism that is made up of only one cell

Unicellular

Unicellular vs. Multicellular

​Examples:

• bacteria

• protists

• yeast

​Examples:

• humans

• trees

• fungi

STAAR Booklet page 78

an organism that must consume other organisms in order to obtain energy

Heterotroph

an organism that is able to produce its own food through the process of photosynthesis

Autotroph

Autotroph vs. Heterotroph

​Examples:

• plants

• phytoplankton

• algae

• some bacteria

​Examples:

• dogs

• birds

• fish

• humans

STAAR Booklet page 78

Multiple Select

Which organelle(s) belong in both plant and animal cells?

• chloroplast

• mitochondria

• nucleus

• cell wall

• cell membrane

Plant Cell Structures and Functions

​Cell Membrane - controls what comes in and out of the cell

Cell Wall - rigid layer surrounding a plant cell that provides support, strength and shape

Nucleus - controls the activities of the cell

Cytoplasm - thick gel-like fluid inside the cell between the nucleus and the cell membrane

Mitochondria - produces the energy needed for the cell to carry out its functions

Chloroplast - contains chlorophyll and makes food from sunlight

Vacuole - the storage area of the cell

Golgi Bodies - packages and distributes materials to other parts of the cell

Endoplasmic Reticulum - passageways in the cell that carry materials from one part of the cell to another

STAAR Booklet page 72

Multiple Select

Which organelle(s) ONLY exist in plant cells?

• cytoplasm

• cell wall

• chloroplast

• endoplasmic reticulum

Multiple Choice

An organism that produces its own food supply from inorganic compounds is called a(an)

• heterotroph
• consumer
• detritivore
• autotroph

Multiple Choice

What is the original source of almost all energy in most ecosystems?

• carbohydrates
• sunlight
• water
• carbon

Multiple Choice

An organism that needs to eat other organisms to obtain energy is known as a:

• Autotroph
• Producer
• Consumer
• Mutualist

Multiple Choice

The nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

• Abiotic factors

• Biotic factors

Multiple Choice

The organisms that make up a community and the nonliving parts of the environment that they interact with are a(n)

• Population

• Community

• Habitat

• Ecosystem

Multiple Choice

Plants that convert energy from the sun are also called

• decomposers

• primary consumers

• secondary consumers

• producers

Multiple Choice

What are the abiotic factors in this image?

• water, sunlight, dirt, air

• birds and plants

• birds, water, dirt

• plants, water

Multiple Choice

An individual belonging to a specific species is a

• Biotic

• Community

• Organism

• Reptile

Multiple Choice

The study of how living things interact with one another and with their environment.

• Biology
• Lithology
• Ecology
• Farmacology

Multiple Choice

Two or more members of a particular species living and interacting in the same area

• Community
• Population
• Organisms
• Biosphere

Multiple Choice

All of the fish and aquatic plants living in Mirror Lake are considered a

• species

• population

• community

• biome

Multiple Choice

Different populations living and interacting with each other in the same area

• Biome
• Ecosystem
• Community
• Niche

Multiple Choice

All of the squirrels living in Hubbard Park would be considered a

• population

• community

• ecosystem

• organism

Multiple Choice

The portion of the planet in which living things are found

• ecosystem

• biosphere

• biome

• atmosphere

Multiple Choice

Organisms that break down decaying material are

• consumers

• producers

• decomposers

Multiple Choice

From an ecological standpoint, all of the humans in Meriden are called a

• population

• community

• ecosystem

• species

Multiple Choice

Long Island Sound, including the plants and animals living in it, is considered a(n)

• biosphere

• ecosystem

• community

• population

I can describe and give examples for the vocabulary words used.

​I know I have it when...

Learn vocabulary related to ecology to describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

​Today I will...

Learning intentions

Open Ended

Define an ecosystem in your own words.

Open Ended

Define homeostasis in your own words.

• A balance or stable condition.

• An ecosystem in homeostasis maintains a balance even as parts of it change.

• Biological equilibrium

​Homeostasis

• Consists of a community of organisms together with their physical environment.

• Includes biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
  

​Ecosystem

Review

​Vocabulary

• A producer is an autotroph, which means it makes its own food.

  Examples: plants, algae, some bacteria

• A consumer is a heterotroph, which means it feeds on other organisms.
  Example: All animals!

• A decomposer eats dead things

  Examples: bacteria and fungi
  

​Vocabulary

• A Food chain shows energy flow through a system

• The arrows point towards the thing that is eating

• A food web is multiple food chains put together

• Primary producer > primary consumer > secondary consumer > tertiary consumer

• 10% of energy goes to the next trophic level

  • Hint: Divide by ten (10) from one trophic level to the next!
    

Match

Match the vocabulary word with its definition

• Producer/Autotroph

• Consumer/Heterotroph

• Food web

• Primary producer

• Primary Consumer

Makes its own food

Feeds on other organisms

Shows multiple food chains put together

At the bottom of the energy pyramid

Eats the primary producer

• Makes its own food

• Feeds on other organisms

• Shows multiple food chains put together

• At the bottom of the energy pyramid

• Eats the primary producer

Multiple Choice

If there are 800 calories at the producer level, how much energy will be available at the primary consumer level?

• 8

• 80

• 800

• 8000

​Arrows point to where the energy is going or what is doing the eating!

​What does it eat?

1. What is an animal that only eats plants called?

2. What is an animal that only eats meat called?

3. What is an animal that eats both plants and animals called?

   
   
   

​Vocabulary

Carnivore: Eats only meat
Herbivore: Eats only plants
Omnivore: Eats both plants and animals!

Carn=meat
Herb=plant or grass
Omni=all
vore=to eat, devour

Match

Match the following

• Carnivore

• Herbivore

• Omnivore

Eats meat

Eats plants

Eats both meat and plants

• Eats meat

• Eats plants

• Eats both meat and plants

Open Ended

Give an example of a carnivore.

​ Cats are carnivore. They only eat meat!

Open Ended

Give an example of an herbivore.

​Cows are herbivores. They only eat plants.

Open Ended

Give an example of an omnivore.

​Humans are omnivores. We'll eat meat and plants. We'll eat just about anything!

Keystone Species

A keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different.
Example: Wolves in Yellowstone.

Open Ended

Do you have any questions on today's lesson? Do you have any questions for Ms. Archer?

I can describe and give examples for the vocabulary words used.

I know I have it when...

Learn vocabulary related to the organization of ecosystems.

​Today I will...

Learning intentions

Reorder

Put these in order of energy flow. Put primary producer on the left.

<<<<<<<<<<Primary producer<<<<<<<<<

• Primary Producer

• Primary Consumer

• Secondary Consumer

• Tertiary Consumer

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Open Ended

In your own words, what is a Keystone Species?

Primary producer > primary consumer > secondary consumer > tertiary consumer

​Flow of Energy

A keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different.

​Keystone species

Review

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT eating grass in our food web?

• Grasshopper

• Mouse

• Frog

• Rabbit

​Ecology Vocabulary

Organism: A single living thing
Population: Group of the same species living in the same area
Carrying capacity: Greatest number of individuals that the environment can sustain
Limiting factors: prevent overpopulation. These include lack of resources, competition, disease.

​Ecology Vocabulary

Community: Many populations living in the same area.
Niche: The role an organism plays in an ecosystem. This includes where it lives, what it eats, and what conditions it can survive in (temperature, humidity, etc.).
Competition: When two organisms are fighting for the same resources. Intraspecific competition is between the same species, interspecific competition is between different species.

​
Organisms compete for limited resources such as food, water, territory, sunlight, mates, and much more!

​Ecology Vocabulary

Ecosystem: All the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in the same area.
Biome: Large area with a distinct climate, plant, and animal life.
Biosphere: The part of the Earth where life can be found. This stretches from the ocean depths to about 11 miles into the atmosphere.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a predator/prey relationship?

• coyote hunts mice

• snake eaten by hawk

• euglena photosynthesizes

• field mouse eaten by cat

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a pioneer species (the first to colonize a habitat after a disruption) for primary succession?

• trees

• shrubs

• soil

• lichens

Multiple Choice

The living portions of the ecosystem.

• Biotic factors
• Abiotic factors

Multiple Choice

Desert, tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, and tundra are types of

• ecosystems

• biomes

• communities

• biospheres

Multiple Choice

Which terms are used to refer to heterotrophic organisms?

• consumer and producer

• consumer, producer, and decomposer

• consumer and decomposer

Drag and Drop

Carrying capacity is the ​

Placeholder

number of organisms that can survive in an area based on the available ​

Placeholder

, such as food and water.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

maximum

resources

minimum

predators

Multiple Choice

This term describes an organism that only eats other animals.

• Carnivore

• Herbivore

Multiple Choice

An organism's position in the food chain.

• Population

• Trophic Level

Multiple Choice

The amount of energy that a trophic level stores from the trophic level beneath it.

• 50%

• 10%

Multiple Choice

A non-living factor of an ecosystem

• Biotic

• Abiotic

Multiple Choice

An organism that can make its own food; it is the first step in any food chain

• Carnivore

• Producer

Multiple Choice

A second level consumer; it is an organism that eats a primary consumer

• Secondary Consumer

• Producer

Multiple Choice

An organism that canNOT make its own food; it is the synonym of consumer

• Autotroph

• Heterotroph

Multiple Choice

An animal that eats both plants and animals

• Omnivore

• Herbivore

Multiple Choice

This animal only eats plants/producers

• Herbivore

• Omnivore

Multiple Choice

This is a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit

• Mutualism

• Predation

Multiple Choice

A LIVING factor of an ecosystem

• Biotic

• Abiotic

Multiple Choice

A group of the same species that lives in the same area at the same time

• Population

• Community

Multiple Choice

An organism that must feed on other organisms in order to gain energy; synonym of heterotroph

• Consumer

• Autotroph

Multiple Choice

A diagram that shows the complex feeding relationships that exist in an ecosystem; network of connected food chains

• Ecosystem

• Food Web

Multiple Choice

The first consumer in a food chain

• Secondary Consumer

• Primary Consumer

Multiple Choice

An organism that can make its own food; it is a synonym of a producer

• Autotroph

• Tertiary Consumer

Multiple Choice

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other one is harmed

• Parasitism

• Mutualism

Multiple Choice

A symbiotic relationship where one species BENEFITS while the other is neither HELPED nor HARMED

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

Multiple Choice

A relationship where two species both try to obtain and use the same limited resource.

• Predation

• Competition

Multiple Choice

A linear PATHWAY that shows the flow of energy from one organism to another

• Food Chain

• Food Web

Multiple Choice

All the populations of different species in an ecosystem interact with one another

• Community

• Organism

Multiple Choice

A collective system of the ecological community in an area as well as the non-living components of the physical environment

• Ecosystem

• Community

Multiple Choice

This term describes an organism that only eats other animals.

• Carnivore

• Herbivore