Bio Organisms and Evolution Review

​Bio Organisms and Evolution

​Essential Questions:

• What evidence supports the theory of evolution and common ancestry among organisms?

• How does natural selection lead to adaptation and speciation?

• How do environmental changes affect population growth and ecosystem stability?

• In what ways do organisms depend on and influence one another within ecosystems?

• How do ecological succession and human activity shape biodiversity over time?

Standard 4.1-4.3 Basic Review:
Common Ancestry

• Chemical and Organic Evolution

  • Chemical Evolution, Prokaryote Metabolism, Endosymbiotic Theory

• Convergent and Divergent Evolution

• Evidence of Evolution

  • Homologous structures, vestigial structures, embryology, fossils, biogeography

• Cladograms

  • Common ancestor, derived traits

• BIO.4.1 Use models to differentiate between organic and chemical evolution, illustrating the steps leading to aerobic heterotrophs and photosynthetic autotrophs.

• BIO.4.2 Evaluate empirical evidence of common ancestry and biological evolution, including comparative anatomy (e.g., homologous structures and embryological similarities), fossil record, molecular/biochemical similarities (e.g., gene and protein homology), and biogeographic distribution.

• BIO.4.3 Construct cladograms/phylogenetic trees to illustrate relatedness between species.

​Divergent Evolution explains how new species form from a recent common ancestor.

• Evidence: Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in​ structure but different in​ function indicates the species​ share a common ancestor.

Convergent Evolution explains how similar traits evolve in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressure and do not share a recent common ancestor

• Evidence: Analogous structures are body parts that are different in​ structure but similar in​ function and indicate the species​ do not share a common ancestor.

Drag and Drop

Analogous structures are body parts that are different in​

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but similar in​

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indicates the species​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

structure

function

share a common ancestor

do not share a common ancestor

Dropdown

The beak of a bird and the beak of a giant squid evolved independently and serve the same function.

The beaks are the result of a.

Select answer

evolution and are called b.

Select answer

structures.

Birds and giant squid c.​

Select answer

a recent common ancestor.

Drag and Drop

Homologous structures are body parts that are different in​

Placeholder

but similar in​

Placeholder

indicates the species​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

structure

function

share a common ancestor

do not share a common ancestor

Drag and Drop

A whale flipper, bird wing, and a monkey arm each have similar structure (numbers and arrangements of bones).

These are called a. ​

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structures and are the result of b. ​

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evolution

and indicate that whales, birds, and monkeys c. ​

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a recent common ancestor.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

b. convergent

c. do not share

a. analagous

a. homologous

b. divergent

c. share

Homologous structures are similar in​ structure but different in​ function indicates the species​ share a common ancestor

Vestigial Structures have no use in the ​ current species but did have use in ​ancestral species

Fossils provide evidence of evolutionary changes by showing how the structures of species have transformed over time.

​4.5 Describe the Evidence of Common Ancestry

Drag and Drop

Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in​

Placeholder

but different in​

Placeholder

indicates the species​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

structure

function

share a common ancestor

do not share a common ancestor

Drag and Drop

Body parts that have no use in the a.

Placeholder

species but did have use in a.​

Placeholder

species

are known as ​b.

Placeholder

structures.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

b. homologous

b. analogous

a. current

a. ancestral

b. vestigial

Drag and Drop

​

Placeholder

provide evidence of evolutionary changes by

showing how the structures of species have​

Placeholder

over time.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

remained the same

Fossils

transformed

Drag and Drop

​

Placeholder

provide evidence of evolutionary changes by

showing how the structures of species have​

Placeholder

over time.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

remained the same

Fossils

transformed

Multiple Choice

A scientist compares the bone structure of a human arm, a bat wing, and a whale flipper. Although they have different functions, they share the same basic bone arrangement. What does this suggest about these organisms?

• They evolved in the same environment.

• They share a common ancestor.

• They are members of the same species.

• They evolved from different ancestors to look similar (convergent evolution).

Multiple Choice

The diagram shows the front limb bones of a frog, whale, human, and bat. These structures have different functions but similar bone patterns.

What do these similarities provide evidence for?

• The animals all use their limbs in the same way

• The animals live in the same environment

• The animals inherited the structure from a common ancestor

• The animals are the same species with slight differences

Multiple Choice

Which of these structures are the best evidence of evolutionary relationships?

• bat wing and bee wing

• bat lower jaw and whale lower jaw

• whale flipper and bee wing

• bat wing and whale flipper

Dropdown

Whale ancestors had legs and lived partially on land. Over millions of years, whales changed over time and adapted to fully aquatic environments. The diagram shows a simplified summary of these changes.

Compared to early whale ancestors,

the body structure of modern whales has​

Select answer

,

and the number of visible limbs has

Select answer

in adaptation for aquatic movement.

Multiple Choice

Scientists compared several whale species using genetic and anatomical evidence. The cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among these whales. Rice’s whale is shown as a distinct branch.

Which type of evidence BEST supports the conclusion that Rice’s whale is a unique species?

• Similar migration behavior between Rice’s and Bryde’s whales

• The blowhole shapes of Rice’s whale and Eden’s whale

• Genetic differences shown in mitochondrial DNA

• Similar skull measurements between Rice’s whale and blue whale

Multiple Select

Scientists discovered a desert lizard population once thought to be the same species as the common spotted lizard. New evidence suggests it may be a separate species:

Different scale patterns and colors

No response to each other’s mating call

Mitochondrial DNA differences

Different activity times

Fossils show both groups are over 2 million years old

Populations live 200 miles apart

Which THREE types of data BEST support that the desert lizards are a new species?

• Scale pattern and coloration

• Mating behavior differences

• Genetic differences in mitochondrial DNA

• Fossil record age

• Geographic distance between the populations

Embryology shows similarities in developmental patterns across species indicates they share common ancestor

Biogeography shows species on different continents that share similar structures and behaviors but have different adaptations share a common ancestor

• Supercontinents - Pangea / Gondwanaland

​4.5 Describe the Evidence of Common Ancestry

Sequence Homology

• Compare similarities and differences in DNA (best), RNA, or amino acids sequences.

• More similarities in sequences indicate the closer the species are related and that they share common ancestry.

• Check to see if chart is comparing similarities or differences.

​Similarities Highlighted

​Differences Highlighted

Multiple Choice

Several species of extinct giant tortoises once lived on different islands in the Indian Ocean. One species still lives today on Aldabra Island. Scientists want to find out how closely the living tortoise is related to the extinct ones.

What is the MOST accurate way to determine how closely they are related?

• Look at old journal entries and drawings of the extinct tortoises

• Compare the size and shape of their shells and bones

• Measure the distance between Aldabra and the other islands

• Compare the DNA sequences of the living and extinct tortoises

Multiple Choice

Scientists compared the DNA sequences of four different species.

Which statement best explains how DNA sequence homology supports the idea that the species share a common ancestor?

• Species with more similar DNA sequences likely evolved in the same environment.

• Species with more similar DNA sequences likely inherited them from a common ancestor.

• Species with different DNA sequences cannot be related.

• Species that have similar physical features always have identical DNA.

Multiple Choice

The table shows a portion of a gene sequence from four organisms.

Based on the data, which two organisms are MOST closely related?

[count the number of similar nucleotides]

• Human and Lemur

• Human and Gorilla

• Chimpanzee and Human

• Gorilla and Lemur

Multiple Choice

Which organism listed below is MOST closely related to the raccoon?

[count the number of similar nucleotides]

• Black Bear

• Giant Panda

• Red Panda

Multiple Choice

Which organism listed below is most closely related to humans?

[the number of different amino acids shown]

• Yeast

• Chicken

• Dog

• Rattlesnakes

Multiple Choice

The illustration below shows the results of gel electrophoresis of 4 different deer species.

Which two species of deer are more closely related?

• 1 and 3

• 1 and 4

• 2 and 3

• 2 and 4

Common Ancestry

• Shared node indicates most recent common ancestor

Shared Characteristics

• Traits present in all species being analyzed.

Derived Characteristics

• Traits that evolved in some species but not others.

Multiple Choice

Which trait to spiders share with carpenter ants?

• legs

• antenna

• wings

• 2 sets of wings

Labelling

Label the cladogram.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

opposable thumbs

presence of fur

legs

development of lungs

Multiple Select

The diagram below shows an incomplete cladogram for four organisms. Use the traits to determine the correct order of branching.

Which TWO statements BEST describe the relationships shown in the cladogram?

• The trait that separates amphibians from reptiles is the presence of feathers

• The trait that separates birds from mammals is the presence of fur and milk production

• The trait that separates amphibians from reptiles is the ability to lay eggs on land

• The trait that separates mammals from reptiles is the ability to lay eggs

• The trait that separates reptiles from birds is the development of lungs

Standard 4 Basic Review Part 2:

Natural Selection and Gene Pools

• Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection

• Stabilizing, Directional, Disruptive Selection

• Speciation, Reproductive Isolation

• BIO.4.4 Design models and use simulations to investigate the interaction between changing environments and genetic variation in natural selection leading to adaptations in populations and differential success of populations.

• BIO.4.5 Use Darwin's Theory to explain how genetic variation, competition, overproduction, and unequal reproductive success acts as driving forces of natural selection and evolution.

• BIO.4.6 Construct explanations for the mechanisms of speciation (e.g., geographic and reproductive isolation).

Natural selection: organisms with favored traits survive and reproduce

• Variation is the variety of traits

  • Mutations are the main source of variation

    • Genetic recombination (meiosis / crossing over in sex cells and fertilization) reshuffle existing genes and increase variation

• Overproduction is producing more offspring than can survive

• Competition is the struggle over resources

• Adaptations are traits that help an organism survive

• Unequal reproductive success is when individuals with favored traits survive and reproduce

Match

Match the driving forces of natural selection.

• Some beetles in a population are green, and others are brown.

• A frog lays hundreds of eggs, but only a few survive to adulthood.

• Two plants grow close together and compete for sunlight and water.

• Lizards with longer legs run faster and escape predators, so they survive and have more offspring.

variation

overproduction

competition

unequal reproductive success

• variation

• overproduction

• competition

• unequal reproductive success

Match

Match the driving forces of natural selection.

• In a population of rabbits, some have white fur and some have brown fur.

• Each rabbit produces many baby rabbits, but not all survive.

• The rabbits compete for food and must avoid predators in their environment.

• Brown rabbits are better camouflaged and survive more often, so they have more babies and pass on the brown fur trait.

variation

overproduction

competition

unequal reproductive success

• variation

• overproduction

• competition

• unequal reproductive success

Multiple Choice

The skeletal structures of the flipper and the arm are similar, but seals use their flippers for swimming, while monkeys use their arms primarily for grasping and lifting.

This difference is the result of

• migration

• genetic engineering

• succession

• natural selection

Multiple Choice

Cactus plants in desert regions often grow far apart and have thick, waxy skin. Their roots spread wide near the surface to absorb rainwater quickly. Some cacti also release chemicals into the soil that slow the growth of nearby plants.

Which statement BEST explains how these traits help the cactus survive in its environment?

• The wide roots increase sunlight absorption, helping the cactus grow faster.

• The waxy skin reduces the need for nutrients from the soil.

• The chemical release decreases competition for water from nearby plants.

• The chemicals help attract insects to pollinate the cactus flowers.

Multiple Select

Which TWO examples best show how natural selection helps some organisms survive and pass on their traits?

• A rabbit that runs faster than others escapes predators and has more babies.

• A bird learns a new song by copying other birds in the same area.

• A plant with deep roots survives a drought and makes more seeds.

• A fish hides under rocks but rarely comes out to eat.

• An animal grows bigger because it eats more than others after birth.

Multiple Choice

Which scenario best shows how natural selection can cause a trait to become more common in a population over time?

• All members of a species decide to change color to match their environment.

• A group of animals with different fur colors are all equally likely to survive and reproduce.

• Some insects are born with thicker shells. Birds eat the soft-shelled ones, so more thick-shelled insects survive and pass on that trait.

• A plant grows faster after being moved to a greenhouse with more sunlight.

Multiple Choice

Before a volcanic eruption, light-colored lizards were more common because they blended in with sandy soil. After the eruption, the ground became dark with ash and rock. Over several generations, dark-colored lizards became more common.

What most likely caused this change in the population?

• Lizards changed color to match the new environment during their lifetime

• Light-colored lizards were better at finding food in dark environments

• Dark-colored lizards were more likely to survive and reproduce in the new environment

• All lizards moved away from the dark area after the eruption

Multiple Choice

In northern Canada, a population of rabbits was predominantly white in color.

The allele for white color is recessive (g), while the allele for gray color is dominant (G).

Over the last several decades, the average annual temperature of this area has increased, and the long-term deposits of ice and snow have become scarce. We see the result of this change in the graph above.

How can we explain this change in terms of allelic frequency?

• Gray alleles are dominant over white.

• Changes in the environment caused harmful mutations that were passed to offspring.

• In order to survive, rabbits changed from white to gray and they passed the gray allele to offspring.

• Gray rabbits were more likely to survive in the changed habitat. The gray alleles were passed to offspring.

Multiple Choice

The dots represent a bacterial infection. Sal was very sick with this bacterial infection. The infection was treated with antibiotics. Sal seemed to get well, but in a few weeks, she was sick again. How can this be explained using natural selection?

• The antibiotics were ineffective to this strain of bacteria.

• The stronger, more resistant bacteria survived the antibiotics and reproduced.

• The antibiotics did not kill the bacteria; it only forced them to be dormant.

• Antibiotics will only kill a portion of the bacteria, no matter how much medicine Sal takes.

Frequency Graphs

​No Change

Increase then Decrease

Increase

Decrease

• Frequency Graphs show how often a particular form of a trait occurs in a population.

​As natural selection acts, the frequency of a favored trait increases

Multiple Choice

If BROWN fur is favored in mice,

which graph represents what could happen over time to the number of mice with BLACK fur or WHITE fur?

Multiple Choice

Moths in Pontotoc can be white or green. Pontotoc had a green leafy environment so most moths had green leafy colored wings.

50 years ago Pontotoc experienced an extreme snow storm which covered the land in snow that has not melted since.

Which graph best represents the change in the number of green leafy moths?

Multiple Choice

A population of mice includes individuals with white fur and individuals with dark fur. The environment changes from a light sandy beach to dark volcanic rock. Which graph best represents the expected change in the mouse population over time?

• A graph showing the white mice increasing and dark mice decreasing.

• A graph showing the dark mice increasing and white mice decreasing.

• A graph showing both white and dark mice decreasing equally.

• A graph showing no change in the frequency of fur color.

​Stabilizing Selection
Favors the average or medium trait

​Directional Selection
Favors one extreme trait over the other

​Disruptive Selection
Favors both extreme traits

​Natural selection favors traits that increase survival and reproduction

Multiple Choice

Moths in Houlka-land can be white or green. Houlka-land had a green leafy environment so most moths had green leafy colored wings.

50 years ago Houlka-land experienced an extreme snow storm which covered the land in snow that has not melted since.

Which graph best represents this change?

Multiple Choice

When a group of deer migrated to a cold mountain, the thin-furred deer and average-furred deer died.

The thick-furred deer survived and eventually the population became thicker-furred.

Which graph represents this change?

Multiple Choice

Robins typically lay four eggs.

If more than four eggs are produced then the baby chicks are malnourished.

Fewer than four eggs usually result in no viable (able to live) baby chicks.

Which graph represents this?

Multiple Choice

The graph shows the fitness of different rabbit ear lengths in a forest environment.

Which statement BEST explains this outcome?

• Rabbits with short and long ears (points 1 and 3) are more likely to survive and reproduce, so they pass on their traits more often than rabbits with medium ears (point 2).

• Rabbits with medium ear length (point 2) are more likely to survive and reproduce, while rabbits with very short or very long ears (points 1 and 3) are less fit and less likely to pass on their traits.

• Medium ear length (point 2) is caused by environmental factors and does not affect survival.

• Rabbits with short ears (point 1) and medium ears (point 2) survive equally, while long-eared rabbits (point 3) are most likely to pass on their traits.

Divergent evolution occurs when a population of a certain species accumulates differences over time.

• Species is a group of organisms that can successfully interbreed and produce viable, fertile offsprings

• Population is a group of of the same species living in the same place at the same time

Speciation is the formation of a new species

• Speciation occurs when members of populations no longer interbreed (stop)

Multiple Choice

Anoles are a type of lizard that exist as almost 400 different species. An estimated 50 million years ago, populations of Anoles lizards spread to the Caribbean Islands.

Many different species of Anoles evolved over time as they adapted to different niches on the islands.

The emergence of different species of anoles is an example of which of the following?

• selective breeding

• bottleneck effect due to near extinction

• divergent evolution

• hybridization

Multiple Choice

Scientists observed two populations of songbirds on nearby islands. At first, they were considered the same species, but researchers gathered the following data:

The birds sing distinct mating calls that are not recognized by the other group

DNA analysis shows consistent genetic differences between the populations

One group builds nests in trees, the other nests only on the ground

Offspring from cross-breeding attempts between the groups do not survive

Which piece of evidence BEST supports the conclusion that these are two different species?

• The type of nesting location

• The difference in mating calls

• The inability to produce viable offspring

• The fact that they live on different islands

Reproductive Isolation the inability of a population to interbreed due to a barrier

Geographic Isolation

• a physical barrier forms that divides a population into two or more separate groups

• Mountain range or Canyon forms; River forms

Temporal Isolation

• a species develops different reproductive cycles

• Bloom at different times; Day or night spawning; A spring cycle or a fall cycle

Behavioral Isolation

• two populations do not interbreed because of differences in courtship behaviors

• Different courtship dance, song

Mechanical Isolation

• physical differences prevent successful mating

• Members of a species develop incompatible sex organs

• Physically cannot reproduce together.

• Sex organs will not physically fit together

• Pollination only occurs with certain pollinators

Multiple Choice

A single population of lizards lived across a wide desert. Over time, a large river formed and split the population into two separate groups that could no longer cross and mate. After thousands of years, the two groups developed different scale patterns, colors, and mating calls.

Which process MOST likely caused the formation of two different lizard species?

• Natural disasters caused both groups to migrate to new areas

• Genetic drift removed all variation from both populations

• The river caused geographic isolation, and over time the groups evolved separately

• Both groups chose to evolve differently in response to human activity

Multiple Choice

In North America, the eastern spotted skunk mates in late winter, and the western spotted skunk mates in late summer.

Even though their geographic ranges overlap, the species do not mate with each other.

What most likely prevents these two species from interbreeding?

• They have different physical features

• They compete for the same food sources

• They live in completely different environments

• They reproduce at different times of the year

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes how geographic isolation can contribute to land animal speciation?

• Geographic isolation physically separates populations but allows them to interact.

• Geographic isolation physically separates populations and prevents them from interacting.

• Geographic isolation causes genetic changes in individual organisms but allows them to interact.

• Geographic isolation causes genetic changes in individual organisms and prevents them from interacting.

Multiple Choice

A population of fish once lived in a single large lake. Over thousands of years, climate changes caused the lake to split into two smaller lakes that no longer connected. Scientists later discovered that the fish in each lake had developed different colors, mating behaviors, and feeding habits.

Which explanation BEST describes how two new fish species formed?

• The lakes had different water temperatures, so the fish needed to change their behaviors to survive

• The fish were physically separated, and over time their traits changed through mutation and adaptation, leading to speciation

• The fish migrated between the lakes and adapted to both habitats equally

• The fish randomly changed traits and became different species without environmental pressure

Multiple Choice

A population of snakes originally lived in southern Mississippi’s wetland areas. Over time, some snakes migrated north into hill regions and others moved west into dry pine forests. The two new populations developed differences in color and behavior. After many years, the populations came into contact again but could no longer successfully mate.

Which statement BEST explains what happened to these snake populations?

• The snakes adapted to different environments and eventually became separate species due to reproductive isolation

• Both populations changed in the same ways, so they merged back into one population

• Climate changes caused the snakes to lose their genetic variation and become less successful

• One population outcompeted the other for food and forced it to go extinct

Multiple Choice

A population of bacteria is treated with an antibiotic. Most of the bacteria are killed, but a few survive and reproduce. Over time, the entire population becomes resistant to the antibiotic. Which principle of natural selection best explains this?

• Geographic isolation caused the bacteria to become a new species.

• The bacteria mutated because they needed to survive.

• The antibiotic caused the bacteria to become stronger.

• The resistant bacteria survived and passed their resistant genes to their offspring ("survival of the fittest")

Gene Pools represent all of the different genes (alleles) available in a population

• Small Gene Pools have very little genetic variation and are more likely to undergo rapid evolution, especially through random events.

• Large Gene Pools have a lot of genetic variation, increasing a population’s ability to adapt and survive environmental changes.

• Genetic Drift is a random change (by chance) in allele frequencies, especially impactful in small populations.

  • Bottleneck Effect occurs when a population’s size is drastically reduced due to a sudden event (e.g., natural disaster), leaving a smaller gene pool with less variation.

  • Founder Effect happens when a small group separates from a larger population and starts a new colony, carrying only a limited sample of the original gene pool.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes gene pool?

• The alleles only in the immediate family members

• A total set of different alleles in a population

• A frequency of given alleles in a population

• Half the number of the alleles within the population

Multiple Choice

Genetic drift is change in the allele frequency of a population due to...

• random chance

• natural selection

• non-random mating (sexual selection)

• artificial selection

Multiple Choice

A few deer wander out of their native woods into a completely new park where no deer had ever been before.

They go on to create an entirely new population.

What has occurred?

• Genetic Drift (bottleneck )

• Natural Selection

• Genetic Drift (founder effect)

• Mutation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of the bottleneck effect?

• Cheetah populations reach their lowest levels with reduced diversity and as they rebound are so genetically similar they appear to be inbred.

• Affected individuals with blue skin can trace their ancestry back to one of the first settlers in the region.

• The environment of a fox population changes and over time foxes who are white survive and pass on their genes to their offspring.

• Humans choose two dogs they like the characteristics of and breed them together.

Standard 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 - Basic Review 1
Organisms and their Environment

• Ecological organization

  • organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

• Coevolution and ecological relationships

  • herbivory, predation, competition, cooperation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, mimicry

• Energy flow and matter

  • Food chains, webs, pyramids

• Population Growth Patterns

  • Exponential and logistic growth, carrying capacity, density dependent and independent limiting factors

• Interdependence

• BIO.5.1 Illustrate levels of ecological hierarchy, including organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.

• BIO.5.4 Develop and use models to describe the flow of energy and amount of biomass through food chains, food webs, and food pyramids.

• BIO.5.5 Evaluate symbiotic relationships (e.g., mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism) and other coevolutionary (e.g., predator-prey, cooperation, competition, and mimicry) relationships within specific environments.

• BIO.5.6 Analyze and interpret population data, both density-dependent and density-independent, to define limiting factors. Use graphical representations (growth curves) to illustrate the carrying capacity within ecosystems.

Biotic Factors

• living parts of an ecosystem

  • plants, animals, bacteria, mushrooms, mosquitos…

Abiotic Factors

• nonliving parts of an ecosystem

  • rock, temperature, water, soil, energy, pH

​INCLUDE ONLY BIOTIC FACTORS

ORGANISM

• ​an individual living thing

• Ex. one goldfish

POPULATION

• ​a group of the same species at the same place and time

• Ex. all of the goldfish in a lake

COMMUNITY

• ​all of the different populations living in the same place at the same time

• Ex. All of the goldfish, starfish, aquatic plants...in a lake

​

Drag and Drop

Frogs, fish, insects, and plants all living together in the same pond - ​

Placeholder

One frog sitting on a lily pad - ​

Placeholder

A group of frogs living in the same pond - ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

community

organism

population

​INCLUDE BOTH BIOTIC & ABIOTIC FACTORS

ECOSYSTEM

• ​​All of the living things and their nonliving environment at the same place and time

• Ex. all of goldfish, starfish, aquatic plants...and their nonliving environment in a lake

BIOME

• ​​All ecosystems with similar climates

BIOSPHERE

• ​​​All places on earth where life exists

• Ex. all of Earth’s ecosystems

Drag and Drop

Deer, trees, birds, and foxes all living in the same forest. - ​

Placeholder

A group of deer living in the same forest. - ​

Placeholder

Deer, trees, birds, foxes, sunlight, soil, water, and temperature in the same forest. - ​

Placeholder

One deer walking through the forest. - ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

community

population

organism

ecosystem

Drag and Drop

Match the correct level of ecological organization to its definition.

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area is a ​

Placeholder

.

All the different populations (biotic factors) living in an area make up a ​

Placeholder

.

All the biotic factors interacting with the abiotic factors (non-living) make up an ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

population

community

ecosystem

organisms

biome

biosphere

Herbivory +/-

• animals eating plants

• Autotrophs

  • use light energy to make their own food

• Heterotrophs

  • must consume other organisms for food

Predation +/-

• animals consuming animals

• Predator

  • organism hunts for food

• Prey

  • organism killed and consumed for food

Carnivores

• animals that only eat animals

• ex. lions only eat other animals

Herbivores

• animals that only eat plants

• ex. deer only eat plants

Omnivores

• animals that only both plants and animals

• ex. bears eat berries and fish

Drag and Drop

Order of ecological organization from least to most complex:

​ ​

Placeholder

> ​ ​

Placeholder

>​

Placeholder

> ​

Placeholder

> ​ ​ Biome > Biosphere

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Community

Ecosystem

Population

Organism

Drag and Drop

Raccoons eat fruits, acorns, young rabbits and bird eggs - ​

Placeholder

Elephants eat bark, leaves, small branches, roots, grasses, and fruit - ​

Placeholder

Lions eat zebras and wildebeests - ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Omnivore

Herbivore

Carnivore

Camouflage

• resembling something that blends in with your surroundings

• ex. leaf bug; stick bug

Mimicry

• one organism (the mimic) evolves traits to resemble another organism to gain a survival advantage

• ex. harmless snake looks like venomous snake

Self-mimicry

• one part of an animal resembles another part of its body

• ex. eye spots on fish; head and tail on snake look alike

Dropdown

A nonvenomous king snake's scale coloration resembles a venomous coral snake - ​

Select answer

A squirrel's fur resembles the tree it lives in - ​

Select answer

Drag and Drop

A butterfly has eyespots on its tail - ​

Placeholder

A hoverfly has the same coloration as a bee - ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

self-mimicry

mimicry

Competition +/-

• one competitor must develop a competitive advantage over the other for resources

• ​many male animals fight each other for food and/or mating opportunities

Cooperation +/+

• organisms learn to help and depend on each other

• e.x dolphins herd fish together so they can easily trap and eat them

• ex. animals feeding their young

Dropdown

The roots of a spinach plant and a tomato plant fight for the water in the soil - ​

Select answer

A lion kills an antelope for food - ​

Select answer

Dropdown

Lions and Cheetahs live in the same habitat and hunt the same prey - ​

Select answer

Ants work together to take care of the colony - ​

Select answer

MUTUALISM +/+

• Both organisms benefit

• Ex. Flower gets pollinated, humming bird gets food

• Ex. Alligator and bird - bird gets meal, alligator gets teeth cleaned

COMMENSALISM +/0

• One organism benefits, other is not affected

• Ex. Sucker fish and shark - sucker fish attaches to shark and gets leftovers

  Shark is not affected

• Ex. Barnacles on whale

PARASITISM +/-

• One organism benefits, other is harmed

• Parasite lives in or on host

• Ex. Fleas get a meal, the dog loses blood and is harmed

Multiple Choice

What term refers to a close relationship between different species where one benefits and the other is harmed?

• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Mutualism
• Competition

Drag and Drop

Cattle egrets ride on the backs of grazing animals to catch insects exposed while they graze, cows not bothered. This relationship is called ​

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.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers and pollinate them in the process. This relationship is called ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

mutualism

commensalism

Drag and Drop

Vine grows on tree to get light, tree doesn't care - ​

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False widow spiders look like deadly black widow spiders - ​

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Chameleon coloration blends in to hide from the flies it catches to eat - ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Mutualism

Predation

commensalism

mimicry

camouflage

parasitism

Nutrients (matter) are cycled in an ecosystem - used over and over

• carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen..,

Energy flows in one direction, and is not cycled

• Most energy is used or lost as heat

​10%

Multiple Choice

What part of an environment that is not cycled but mostly lost as heat?

• Water
• Energy
• Nutrients

PRODUCERS (autotrophs)

• organisms that use energy from the sun to make food (plants)

• convert light energy (Sun) into chemical energy (sugar)

• has the most energy available and greatest biomass

• plants, cyanobacteria, algae

CONSUMERS (heterotrophs)

• organisms that get energy by eating other organisms

• animals; most bacteria, fungi

PRIMARY
CONSUMERS

• Herbivores - only eat producers (plants)

• cows, rabbits, and deer

TERTIARY
CONSUMERS

• eat secondary consumers

• Carnivores

• Top Predator

• Top Consumer

• Has least available energy

SECONDARY CONSUMERS

• eat primary consumers

• Omnivores - eat plants and animals

• Carnivores - only eat animals

Dropdown

Sun > Grass > Grasshopper > Bird > Snake

Producer = ​

Select answer

Primary Consumer = ​

Select answer

Secondary Consumer = ​

Select answer

Decomposers

• Bacteria and Fungi that chemically break down dead and decaying matter and put nutrients back into the soil

• Plants must have these nutrients to grow

​

Multiple Choice

How do decomposers help other organisms in an ecosystem?

• They break down dead organisms and add nutrients back to the soil that plants use.

• They use the sunlight to make their own food that other organisms eat for energy.

• They help disperse seeds for plant growth.

• Decomposers do not help other organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Chain

• simple linear diagram showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem

• Arrow points in the direction energy is moving

Food Web

• complex diagram that shows many interweaving food chains

​Sun

Producer

Primary
Consumer

Secondary
Consumer

Tertiary
Consumer

Quaternary
Consumer

Hotspot

Click the food chain that has the correct arrows.

​Label the Food Chain

​

Producer

​Sun

Primary
Consumer

Quaternary
Consumer

Tertiary
Consumer

Secondary
Consumer

​Label the Food Chain

​A Trophic Level is each step in a food chain or food web

• Indicates how many times energy is transferred or how much biomass is available

Level 0

• Sun

• Main energy source for life

• Light Energy

Level 1

• Producers

• Most available energy and biomass

Level 2

• Primary Consumers

Level 3

• Secondary Consumers

Level 4

• Tertiary Consumers

• Least available energy and biomass

Labelling

Label the trophic levels.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

4

5

1

0

3

2

Trophic Level 1 - Bottom

• Always producers

• Most available energy and biomass

Trophic Level 4/5 - Top

• Always predator

• Least available energy and biomass

Energy and Biomass

• decrease as you move to next level

• only 10% is transferred to next level

• the rest is used or lost

Dropdown

Producers are always found at the ​

Select answer

of a trophic pyramid

The Apex Predator always found at the ​

Select answer

of a trophic pyramid

Dropdown

Producers have the ​

Select answer

energy available

The apex predator has the ​

Select answer

available energy

Dropdown

​

Select answer

have the most available energy.

​

Select answer

have the least available energy.

​Energy Pyramid

​Producers - 50,000J

​Primary Consumers - 5,000 J

​Secondary Consumers - 500 J

​Tertiary Consumers - 50 J

​Energy Pyramid

Labelling

Label the transfer of energy correctly on the energy pyramid.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

5,000 J

5 J

500 J

50 J

50,000 J

Increasing Population Size

• Birth Rate (natality)

  • organisms being born

• Immigration

  • organisms moving into a population

Decreasing Population Size

• Death Rate (mortality)

  • organisms dying

• Emigration

  • organisms moving out of a population

LIMITING FACTORS

• Any resource or environmental condition that slows the growth of a population

• 2 Types:

  • Density Dependent

  • Density Independent

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the relationship between birth rate and death rate in a growing population?

• The birth rate is equal to the death rate, so the population stays the same.

• The birth rate is less than the death rate, so the population decreases.

• The birth rate is greater than the death rate, so the population increases.

• The birth rate and death rate have no effect on population size.

Multiple Choice

How do immigration and emigration affect the size of a population?

• Immigration increases population size, while emigration decreases it.

• Immigration decreases population size, while emigration increases it.

• Immigration and emigration both decrease population size.

• Immigration and emigration have no effect on population size.

Exponential Growth

• grows without limit

• new population that initially has

• unlimited resources

• few or no predators

• very little competition for resources

• J-shaped curve

Logistic Growth

• natural growth

• grows quickly at first then levels off

• slowed by limiting factors

• S-shaped curve

• Has a Carrying capacity

  • number of organisms an ecosystem can support

Labelling

Label the growth curve.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

carrying capacity

fast growth

slow growth

Labelling

Label the growth curve.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

slow growth

fast growth

carrying capacity

DENSITY INDEPENDENT

• ABIOITIC Limiting factors that affect a population regardless of its size or density. All species equally affected

• temperature - abiotic

• unusual weather - abiotic

  • flood, hurricane, tornado, drought

• oxygen levels - abiotic

• sunlight - abiotic

• natural disasters - abiotic

• human activities - anthropogenic

  • habitat destruction; pollution

  • deforestation

DENSITY DEPENDENT

• BIOTIC Limiting factors that increase in effect as a population grows larger or denser.

  • competition - biotic

  • overcrowding - biotic

  • predation - biotic

  • parasitism - biotic

  • disease - biotic

    • bacteria/viral infection

  • food supply - biotic

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limiting factor?

• Competition for food

• A contagious disease

• A wildfire

• Predation by wolves

Multiple Choice

Which graph represent the change in black bear population if a drought reduces the number of blueberry bushes in Pickens county?

Multiple Choice

A population of fish in a pond dies suddenly after a chemical spill contaminates the water. This is an example of which type of limiting factor?

• Density-dependent, because it affected a large population.

• Density-dependent, because the fish were competing for clean water.

• Density-independent, because the spill affected the fish regardless of population size.

• Density-independent, because the fish population increased after the spill.

• The number of organisms an ecosystem can support

• Population growth is limited by limiting factors

  • resources, predation, weather, disease...

Carrying Capacity

Slow Growth

Slow Growth

Fast Growth

Multiple Choice

What happens to a population when it reaches the carrying capacity of its environment?

• The population continues to grow without limits.

• The population crashes and becomes extinct.

• The birth rate becomes higher than the death rate.

• The population levels off as resources become limited.

Multiple Choice

Based on the graph, what does the leveling off of the deer population around 500 most likely represent?

• The number of predators in the area

• A decrease in the birth rate only

• The forest’s carrying capacity for deer

• The start of an extinction event

Multiple Choice

A population of raccoons in a Mississippi wetland is growing rapidly.

At first, the population increases exponentially, but over time the growth slows and levels off.

What most likely caused the change from exponential to logistic growth?

• A sudden increase in birth rate

• A decrease in predator populations

• The presence of limiting factors like food and space

• The migration of raccoons from other areas

Multiple Choice

A lake in Mississippi is stocked with a new species of fish.

Over the first few years, the fish population grows rapidly.

After a while, the growth slows and the population levels off.

What most likely explains this shift from exponential to logistic growth?

• The fish ran out of genetic variation.

• Predators stopped hunting the fish.

• Resources like oxygen and food became limited as the population grew.

• The fish evolved to stop growing after a certain number of years.

• Producers have the most effect on all organisms in an ecosystem

• ​A decrease producers will affect ALL organisms in a food web

• ​A decrease in sunlight or rainfall will decrease the number of producers

​Decrease in Producers

• If a primary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of producers will increase.

  • Less Grasshoppers, Mice, or Rabbits > more Grass

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of producers will decrease.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards means more Grasshoppers, Mice, or Rabbits > less Grass

​Decrease in Primary Consumers

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of primary consumers will increase.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards > more Grasshoppers and Mice

• If a secondary consumer is removed from a food chain, the number of tertiary consumers will decrease.

  • Less Snakes and Lizards > less Hawks

​Decrease in Secondary Consumers

Multiple Choice

What is the most likely effect of removing a top predator, like a bobcat, from a Mississippi forest ecosystem?

• Prey populations will decrease, and plant life will thrive.

• Prey populations will increase, leading to overgrazing and less plant life.

• Other predators will stop hunting to avoid competition.

• The ecosystem will remain stable and unaffected.

• As the prey population increases the predator population increases (but lags behind).

• When the prey population exceeds carrying capacity, the prey population decreases.

• Since the predators primarily depend on the prey as their main food source, their population decreases as well (but lags)

• More prey survive due to more food and less predators

• More predators are born and survive due to more prey available...

Predator-Prey Cycle (boom-bust cycle)

Multiple Choice

What usually happens to a predator population when the prey population decreases?

• The predator population increases because there is more competition.

• The predator population decreases due to a lack of food.

• The predator population stays the same regardless of prey numbers.

• The predator population becomes more genetically diverse.

• Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere

  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂ - main one), methane, water vapor

• Greenhouse Effect is the warming of the Earth caused by greenhouse gases.

  • Necessary for life to exist on Earth!

• Evidence - Carbon Dioxide measurements taken over time compared to the Earth's temperature

• As carbon dioxide levels increase, the temperature of the Earth increases.

• Excess greenhouse gases cause climate change

• Increasing Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Increases Global Temperatures

Multiple Choice

Which greenhouse gas is most commonly associated with climate change discussions due to its significant role in trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere?

• Methane (CH₄)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
• Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
• Flourinated gases

Multiple Choice

The graph below shows CO₂ emissions and temperatures from 1909 to 1949.  What conclusion is best supported by the graph?

• There is no relationship between carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures
• As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures increase
• As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures decrease
• As carbon dioxide concentrations decrease, temperatures increase

Increasing the Greenhouse Effect

• Increases Earth's temperature

• Combustion - Burning Fossil Fuels - MAIN CAUSE

• Deforestation - cutting down forests - less photosynthesis

• Wildfires

• Warmer Oceans

• Decomposition

Decreasing the Greenhouse Effect

• Decreases the Earth's temperature

• Burn less fossil fuels

  • Use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric

• Planting Trees - more photosynthesis

• Cooler Oceans

Multiple Choice

The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is...

• using bottled water
• burning fossil fuels
• texting on cellphones
• eating meat

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be made from this graph?

• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been decreasing since 1960
• Hawaii has a lot of carbon dioxide
• humans have been working hard to decrease carbon dioxide levels
• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased steadily since 1960

Multiple Choice

Certain gases in the atmosphere – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – help maintain the Earth’s temperatures and climate.

What are these gases called?

• ozone gases

• solar gases

• greenhouse gases 

• stomach gases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is contributing to an INCREASE in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

• deforestation

• photosynthesis

• oceans

• all of the above

• the loss of animal species

Multiple Choice

Data collected over the last 100 years shows a strong correlation between the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and the rise in global average temperatures. Which human activity is the primary cause of this increase in CO₂?

• Planting more trees and forests.

• The use of nuclear power plants.

• The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas).

• The increase in recycling programs.

• Pioneer Species first living thing in an ecosystem - small, fast growing, many seeds

  • lichens, mosses, grasses

• Climax Community is the final mature community

  • hardwood forest of oaks, maple...

Ecological Succession is a series of predictable changes in an ecosystem

• How life begins or returns to an area

• Primary Succession

  • Begins after soil has been removed - on bare rock

    • Lava flow, glacier retreating, new land formed

• Secondary Succession

  • Begins after life has been removed - soil is still there

    • Wildfire, flood, abandoned land

Primary Succession begins on bare rock

• After lava flow, glacier retreating, new land formed

• Pioneer species is mosses or lichen that break down rock creating layer of soil

• Next = grasses, shrubs, fast-growing trees

• Climax Community is hardwood trees

Multiple Select

After which events can primary succession occur? (2)

• Volcanic eruption

• Forest fire

• Flood

• A glacier retreating

• A farmer clearing land

Reorder

Place primary succession in order

• Bare rock

• Lichens

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Trees

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Secondary Succession begins after life has been removed but soil is still present

• Wildfire, flood, abandoned land, cleared land

• Pioneer species is grasses or mosses

• Next = shrubs, fast-growing trees

• Climax Community is hardwood forest

Multiple Select

After which events can secondary succession occur? (3)

• Forest fire

• Volcanic eruption

• A glacier retreating

• Flood

• Clearing land to plant

Multiple Choice

What is the pioneer species of secondary succession?

• Grasses and wildflowers
• Mosses and lichens
• Shrubs

Reorder

Place Secondary Succession in Order

• Soil

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Fast-growing Trees

• Hardwood Forest

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Categorize

Options (6)

Barrier island formation in New Jersey

Landslide along a coast in California

Advancing of glaciers across Minnesota

Fire that released lodgepole pine seed in Colorado

Straight-line wind damage uprooting hardwood trees in Mississippi

Volcanic eruption and extensive lava flow in Hawaii

Match the events to the kind of succession that each could lead to.

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Pond Succession

• Begins with a depression in the earth

• Pioneer species - Phytoplankton, blue-green algae bacteria are producers

• Zooplankton feed on producers

• Sediment gradually fills in the pond

• Ponds are never climax communities

ORDER: Lake→Marsh→Grassland→Shrubs→Forest
Pond→Meadow→Shrubs→Forest

Multiple Choice

What is the climax community of a pond ecosystem?

• the pond is the climax community

• a meadow

• a hardwood forest

Reorder

Pland pond succession in order - start with POND

• Pond

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Small Trees

• Forest

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?

• Regrowth of vegetation after a forest fire

• Recovery of a coral reef after a bleaching event

• Formation of a new island after a volcanic eruption

• Replanting of crops after a harvest

Multiple Choice

Why do grasses appear before shrubs in ecological succession?

• loosen the dirt for new trees to take roots?

• provide food for animals returning to the area

• require plenty of sunlight to make their own food

• can grow even in areas with shallow soil

Multiple Choice

An example of typical pioneer species, that is one that appears in the earliest stages of ecological succession is:

• Oak Trees

• Spiders

• Weeds

• Small Conifer Trees

Multiple Choice

Which would result in primary succession?

• volcano destroying habitat leaving only soil and ash

• Tornado destroying a crop leaving very little soil

• Glacier retreating exposing bare rock

• limiting factors

Multiple Choice

Breaking News! A new island has formed off of Hawaii! What must occur for it to become an ecosystem?

• Secondary Succession

• Aquatic succession

• Primary Succession

• Ferns must grow

Drag and Drop

Ecological succession is the process of change in an ecosystem over time. Match the type of succession to the correct scenario.

Scenario A: A volcano erupts and creates a new island of bare rock. Lichens slowly break down the rock into soil. This is ​

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succession.

Scenario B: A farmer abandons a field that was once used for crops. Weeds and grasses quickly grow back in the existing soil. This is ​

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succession.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

secondary

primary