Ecosystem Worksheet

All of the living and nonliving things in an area that interact with each other make a(n) ________. The non-living parts of an ecosystem are ________. The living things in an ecosystem are said to be ________. An example of an abiotic factor that influences many ecosystems is ________. An example of a biotic factor that influences forest ecosystems might be ________.

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

(d)  

(e)  

• ecosystem
• abiotic factors
• biotic factors
• climate
• dead leaves on the forest floor

It's the smallest part of an ecosystem; it can independently carry out life processes for survival

• abiotic factor

• organism

• population

• community

Answer explanation

An organism is the smallest unit of an ecosystem that can independently perform life processes, such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli, making it the correct answer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Match the following concepts with the correct description. An organism that can make its own food is said to be a(n) ________. An organism that cannot make its own food and must, instead, take it in, is said to be a(n) ________. The process by which many producers capture light energy and convert it to chemical energy (food) is ________. An organism that breaks down dead organisms and wastes, returning nutrients to the environment is a(n) ________. The source of all energy in every ecosystem originates or starts with ________. An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing is a(n) ________.

​​ (a)   (b)   ​ (c)   ​ (d)   ​ (e)  

• consumer
• decomposer
• photosynthesis
• sun
• producer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area make a(n)

• organism

• population

• community

• abiotic factor

Answer explanation

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area is defined as a population. This term specifically refers to the same species, distinguishing it from a community, which includes multiple species.

All of the different populations that live together and interact in an area make up a(n) ________.

• organism

• population

• community

• producer

Answer explanation

A community is defined as all the different populations that live together and interact in a specific area. Therefore, the correct answer is 'community', as it encompasses multiple populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

The place where an organism lives and gets everything it needs for survival is the a (a)   .

• organism

• population

• community

• habitat

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'habitat' because it refers to the specific environment where an organism lives and obtains all necessary resources for survival, unlike the other options which refer to broader ecological concepts.

All of the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks living in an area of the Indian Ocean make up a (n)

• population

• community

• ecosystem

• flock

Answer explanation

The Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks in the Indian Ocean represent a population, as they are a group of the same species living in a specific area. A community includes different species, while an ecosystem encompasses both living and non-living components.

All of the different fish, sea stars, corals, and anemones living in a reef makeup the

• population

• community

• ecosystem

• abiotic factors

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'community' because it refers to all the different species, such as fish, sea stars, corals, and anemones, living together in a specific area like a reef.

The study of how living things interact with each other and their non-living environment is

• geology

• ecology

• meteorology

• chemistry

Answer explanation

The study of how living things interact with each other and their non-living environment is called ecology. It focuses on relationships within ecosystems, making it the correct choice over geology, meteorology, and chemistry.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Today, Earth's axis is tilted approximately (a)   degrees.

• 10

• 23

• 36

• 57

Answer explanation

Earth's axis is tilted approximately 23 degrees. This tilt is responsible for the changing seasons as it affects the angle and intensity of sunlight received at different latitudes.