Matter and Energy in Ecosystems - Critical Juncture

1. Algae are plantlike organisms that live in the water. These algae have been in sunlight for several hours now. What can the algae do because they are in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the algae?
   
   The algae can . . .

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows them to make energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

2. Dugongs are animals that live in the ocean and eat underwater grasses. The sun is shining on the shallow ocean water where the grasses and dugongs live.
   
   What is happening to the carbon in the water around the grasses and the dugongs? Is carbon moving into the water, moving out of the water, or both?

• Carbon is not moving into the water; it is only moving out of the water.

• With this information, there is no way to know for sure.

• Carbon is moving into the water and out of the water, at the same time.

• Carbon is only moving into the water; it is not moving out of the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

3. A scientist built a model ecosystem that contains air, plants, and animals that eat those plants. It is sealed so no material can get in or out, but the glass sides allow light to get in. The model ecosystem can also be covered to prevent light from entering.
   
   The amount of carbon in the air inside the model ecosystem started out high. Now the amount of carbon in the air is decreasing. Is the model ecosystem now in sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants and animals as a result?

• The model ecosystem is in sunlight, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.

• The model ecosystem is in sunlight, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.

• The model ecosystem is covered so no light gets in, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.

• The model ecosystem is covered so no light gets in, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

4. These pea plants have been in the sunlight since early morning.
   
   What can the pea plants do because they are in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the pea plants?
   
   The pea plants can…

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows them to make energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

Hippos spend most of their time in rivers, but they come out of the water to eat grass. Right now, it's the middle of the night. The sun is not shining, and the hippos are not eating.

What is happening to the carbon in the air around the hippos and the grass nearby?

• 
  Carbon is not moving into the air; it is only moving out of the air.

• With this information, there is no way to know for sure.

• Carbon is moving into the air and out of the air, at the same time.

• Carbon is only moving into the air; it is not moving out of the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

6. Julietta has a glass ball filled with water. In the water are tiny plants and shrimp that eat the plants. No material can get in or out, but sunlight can get through the glass.
   
   The glass ball can also be covered to prevent light from entering. The number of energy storage molecules in the plants and shrimp started out low but now it is increasing. Is the glass ball in sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the carbon in the water inside the glass ball?

• 
  

• The glass ball is covered so no light gets in, and there is more carbon in the water now than there was before.

• The glass ball is covered so no light gets in, and there is less carbon in the water now than there was before.

• The glass ball is in sunlight, and there is less carbon in the water now than there was before.

• The glass ball is in sunlight, and there is more carbon in the water now than there was before.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

7. Some trees are taking in carbon from the air around them. Are the trees in sunlight? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the trees?
   
   The trees . . .

• are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is decreasing.

• are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is increasing.

• are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is increasing.

• are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is decreasing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

8. Parrotfish live in the ocean and eat plantlike organisms called algae. Sunlight is shining on the fish and the algae. Is carbon moving into the living things, moving out of the living things, or both?

• Carbon is moving into and out of the living things, at the same time.

• Carbon is only moving into the living things; it is not moving out of them.

• 
  Carbon is only moving out of the living things; it is not moving into them.

• There is no way to know for sure, with this information.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

9. Bonnie has an aquarium filled with water, plants, and fish that eat those plants. It is sealed so no material can get in or out, but the glass sides allow light to get in. The aquarium can also be covered to prevent light from entering.
   
   The amount of carbon in the water started out low. Now, the amount of carbon in the water is increasing. Is the aquarium now in light or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the living things?

• The aquarium is covered (so it's dark), and there are more energy storage molecules in the living things.

• The aquarium is covered (so it's dark), and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the living things.

• The aquarium is in the light, and there are more energy storage molecules in the living things.

• The aquarium is in the light, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the living things.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Some rice plants on a hillside are taking in carbon from the air around them.

Are the plants in sunlight? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants?

The plants .

• are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is increasing.

• are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is decreasing.

• are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is decreasing.

• 
  are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is increasing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7