Observing Organisms in Ecosystems

Observe the way organisms live and survive in their ecosystem by interacting with the biotic and abiotic components. Which sentence describes the interaction of a white-tailed deer with both biotic and abiotic parts of its ecosystem?

• The white-tailed deer hides behind a rock and uses the heat from the sun to stay warm.

• The white-tailed deer protects its fawn from predators and shows the fawn how to find food.

• The white-tailed deer rubs its antlers on a tree and eats leaves from the tree.

• The white-tailed deer eats grass in a field and drinks water from a pond.

A teacher uses an aquarium to make a habitat for a frog. A list of student observations of the frog is shown. Student Observations: 1. Hiding in the leaves of a plant 2. Eating a mealworm 3. Swimming through the water 4. Burrowing in the soil 5. Catching a small cricket 6. Hopping over a rock Which student observations show the frog interacting with abiotic elements in its environment?

• Hiding in the leaves of a plant and Burrowing in the soil

• Swimming through the water and Catching a small cricket

• Eating a mealworm and Hopping over a rock

• Hiding in the leaves of a plant and Hopping over a rock

Students study barracudas. They gather some observations of barracudas. A barracuda is shown. Which observation describes barracudas interacting with the living elements of their ecosystem?

• Barracudas can travel quickly using surface ocean currents.

• Barracudas live around hard structures such as oil rigs and jetties.

• Barracudas are predators of other fish.

• Barracudas tend to live in warm waters.

Two box turtles live in an area in a zoo's reptile house. Zoo visitors made a list of observations of the turtles. The list is shown. 1. Sliding into a small pond 2. Eating a strawberry 3. Digging a hole in the sandy soil 4. Climbing onto a flat rock 5. Holding an earthworm in its mouth 6. Walking across the area Which observations best describe how box turtles interact with biotic parts of their environment?

• Observation 4 and observation 6

• Observation 2 and observation 5

• Observation 1 and observation 5

• Observation 3 and observation 4

The chart lists plants and animals interacting with parts of an environment. Which statements describe an animal interacting with a biotic part of the environment?

• Statements 1, 4, and 6 only

• Statements 1, 3, and 5 only

• Statements 2, 5, and 6 only

• Statements 2, 3, and 4 only

A student's model of a closed ecosystem is shown. The student plans to add land snails to the model in order to show how the snails interact with different parts of the ecosystem. What should the student add to the model so that the snails will survive?

• Fish to provide food

• Sticks to provide a place to hide

• Deep water to provide carbon dioxide

• Living plants to provide oxygen

A zookeeper sets up a habitat for a certain species of rabbit. Which answer choice describes the rabbit as it interacts with two abiotic parts of the rabbit's habitat?

• The rabbit breathing air while running down a rocky path

• The rabbit licking its fur while feeding its young

• The rabbit hiding under plants from loud noises

• The rabbit nibbling on vegetation inside the habitat

An interaction between two living parts of the environment is represented by —

• Observations 1 and 2

• Observation 3

• Observations 4 and 5

• Observation 6

Which of these describes one or more biotic organisms that depend on another biotic element to survive?

• Bacteria living in the mouth of a horse

• Ivy plants growing up a fence to obtain more sunlight

• Mold living on a hard, rocky surface

• An angelfish releasing carbon dioxide into pond water

Aquatic plants have adaptations that help them live in water. For example, the structures needed for making food are located on the tops of floating plant leaves. This adaptation helps the plants —

• absorb sunlight

• stay anchored

• avoid predators

• capture fish