Tiny Ecosystems

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecosystem?

• All the living and nonliving things that interact in an area

• A factor in the environment that has no basic needs and was never alive

• A living thing

• A model used to show a single path energy takes as it moves through an ecosystem

An organism that must eat other organisms to obtain energy is known as a __________.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What does it mean for an organism to decompose?

• To break down and decay into simpler components

• To die

• To interact with other organisms

• To move to a different ecosystem

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Why is the lack of sunlight important for a tree hole ecosystem?

• Those organisms prefer darkness.

• It keeps the temperature cool.

• It scares away predators.

• It keeps water in the tree hole.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What is the role of kelp and algae in a tide pool ecosystem?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following is true about tiny ecosystems? (Select all that apply)

• A rain forest ecosystem is considered a tiny ecosystem.

• Ecosystems do not have any predators.

• Air, soil, rocks, and water are all part of the ecosystem.

• Tide pool ecosystems can be found within a forest.

• A whole ecosystem can thrive inside of a tree hole.

Which of the following is NOT part of the ecosystem seen on the bottom of page two?

• Sea stars

• Water

• Rocks

• Human observers

How would a reader describe the overall text structure of this article?

• Informational

• Compare/Contrast

• Cause/Effect

• Problem/Solution

According to paragraph 5, what can you infer about the population of organisms living within the tree hole ecosystem?

• They do not have any predators.

• They are mostly micro-creatures.

• They prefer sunny habitats.

• They live for a long time.

What is the main idea of this selection?

• The Earth is one large ecosystem with many smaller ones within it.

• An ecosystem is all the living and non-living things that interact within an area.

• Small ecosystems like tree holes, fallen logs, and tide pools can thrive despite their small size.

• Air, soil, rocks, and water are non-living components of an ecosystem.