Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Which processes cycle matter and help to sustain an ecosystem and keep it healthy? Select all correct answers.

• A. A water cycle

• B. A carbon cycle

• C. A nutrient recycling through decomposers

• D. A rock cycle

The model shows water cycling through Earth’s systems. The water cycle is affected by energy from the sun and by the force of gravity. Which answer correctly matches the terms with their position in the diagram?

• A. 1: Evaporation; 2: Condensation; 3: Precipitation

• B. 1: Evaporation; 2: Precipitation; 3: Condensation

• C. 1: Precipitation; 2: Condensation; 3: Evaporation

• D. 1: Precipitation; 2: Evaporation; 3: Condensation

A food chain is shown below, which statement describes the amount of energy the mongoose receives?

grass ->mous->cobra->mongoose

• The mongoose has 50 percent of the energy in the pyramid available to it.

• The mongoose has the most amount of energy available to it.

• The mongoose has no energy available to it.

• The mongoose has the least amount of energy available to it.

Look at the energy pyramid. Energy is passed from one level to the next within this pyramid. Which list shows a possible amount of energy at each of the levels?

• A. 1: 1 kcal; 2: 10 kcal; 3: 100 kcal; 4: 1000 kcal

• B. 1: 100 kcal; 2: 10 kcal; 3: 1 kcal; 4: 1000 kcal

• C. [Answer: 1: 1000 kcal; 2: 100 kcal; 3: 10 kcal; 4: 1 kcal]

• D. 1: 100 kcal; 2: 1000 kcal; 3: 10 kcal; 4: 1 kcal

Why are there so few beluga whales compared to the number of Arctic bumblebees on our planet?

• A. Arctic bumblebees do not have predators, which makes them more numerous.

• B. Beluga whales do not have predators, which makes them more numerous.

• C. Arctic bumblebees are at the bottom of the food chain and must eat more organisms but receive a smaller energy transfer.

• D. Beluga whales are at the top of the food chain and must eat more organisms but receive a smaller energy transfer.

(a)   break down dead organisms into nutrients and gases so they can be used by other organisms. (b)   can enter or exit an ecosystem at any point and can cycle continuously. Which terms best complete the sentences?

• Decomposers

• Nutrients

• Energy

• Ecosystem

Look at the image of the energy pyramid. Which statements correctly describe the energy in the trophic levels as organisms move up the energy pyramid? Select all that apply.

• A. Total amount of energy decreases from the grasshopper trophic level to the lizard trophic level.

• B. Producers have less energy, and consumers have more.

• C. Energy is lost as organisms move up trophic levels.

• D. Predators at the top of the pyramid have more energy.

The diagram shows the interactions in the carbon cycle. Which statement correctly describes the carbon cycle?

• A. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to produce food made from carbon for plant growth. Animals eat the plants. Carbon moves from plants to animals.

• B. Animals use carbon dioxide from the air for growth. They restore carbon to the plants.

• C. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to produce food made from carbon for plant growth. Animals eat the plants. The carbon moves from animals to plants.

• D. Animals use carbon dioxide from the air for growth. The carbon flows from plants to animals.

Look at the food web. Which statement describes how the ecosystem would be affected if an organism were removed?

• Removal of the tertiary consumers would stop the flow of energy to the secondary consumers and primary consumers.

• Removal of the primary consumers would stop the flow of energy to the producers and secondary consumers.

• Removal of the producers would stop the flow of energy throughout the ecosystem because they supply energy to every other organism.

• Removal of the secondary consumers would stop the flow of energy to the producers and primary consumers.

The cycling of matter is important because

• Matter can be created and destroyed
• Only a limited amount of matter is available so it has to be recycled
• Matter can only be found in a solution
• Bacteria use matter to convert organisms into solar energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3