Unit 7: Investigating Organisms and their Ecosystems

An abandoned garden has been cleared of all vegetation, and only a layer of nutrient-poor soil remains. Which of the following will most likely be observed in the garden area first?

• Squirrels building nests in trees

• Weeds sprouting in the soil

• Butterflies competing for flower nectar

• Beetles feeding on leaves of shrubs

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

The greater a habitat’s biodiversity, the greater will be that habitat’s -

• sustainability over time with varying conditions.

• consumption of energy in the form of sunlight.

• temperature ranges across the seasons.

• distance to the nearest water source.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Over time, a shallow pond fills with plants, such as duckweed and cattails. These plants -

• will die off quickly in the shallow water.

• support ecological succession from pond to marshland.

• will grow into larger trees as they mature.

• eventually will dry out and create a fire hazard.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Which of the following most likely supports the most sustainable ecosystem?

• The habitat with the greater number of green plants

• The habitat with the greatest variety of living things

• The habitat with the warmest average temperature

• The habitat with the greatest number of consumers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Which of the following contributes most to promoting sustainability in an ecosystem?

• Lack of decomposers

• A balanced water table

• Variety of organisms

• A narrow temperature range

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

A forest is most sustainable when it has -

• tall trees only.

• small shrubs only.

• flowering plants only.

• a variety of plant species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

The habitat with the greatest sustainability will be the one that -

• receives the highest annual rainfall.

• has few top-level predators.

• has the greatest overall biodiversity.

• maintains a moderate climate year-round.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Why does biodiversity contribute to a habitat’s sustainability?

• The more plants and animals in a habitat, the greater the biomass, which is how habitats store energy.

• The greater the number of species, the more competition there is for food between predators, which sustains their populations.

• Changing conditions that harm one species leave other species to survive and perhaps even thrive.

• Landforms change shape less frequently when there is a greater number of species using the land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

A habitat that receives little or no precipitation will most likely be suitable for organisms that -

• hibernate for long periods of time.

• are covered in thick fur to keep warm.

• spend most of the day in the sunlight.

• store large quantities of water internally.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Scientists studying two adjacent ecosystems observe different varieties of organisms in the two areas. All of the following factors would contribute to the differing varieties of organisms in these two habitats EXCEPT -

• climate.

• soil type.

• water resources.

• wind.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1