Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Unit Review

With the sun shining on these trees for hours, what process are the trees undergoing? How does this impact the quantity of energy storage molecules within the trees?

• release oxygen into the air. Releasing oxygen helps them create energy storage molecules.

• release oxygen into the air. Releasing oxygen consumes energy storage molecules.

• absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The carbon dioxide is used to produce energy storage molecules.

• absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The carbon dioxide is used to decompose energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

On a bright day, goats are grazing on the hillside. How is carbon cycling between the atmosphere and the organisms on the mountain? Is carbon entering the atmosphere, leaving it, or both?

• Carbon is only entering the atmosphere; it is not leaving it.

• Carbon is entering and leaving the atmosphere simultaneously.

• Carbon is not entering the atmosphere; it is only leaving it.

• With this information, it is impossible to determine.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Will has an aquarium with water, plants, and fish that rely on the plants for food. The aquarium is sealed, preventing any material exchange with the outside, but it has transparent sides that allow sunlight to enter. The aquarium can also be covered to block light. Initially, the carbon level in the water was high, but now it is decreasing. Is the aquarium exposed to sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants and fish as a result?

• The aquarium is exposed to sunlight, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is exposed to sunlight, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is covered, preventing light from entering, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is covered, preventing light from entering, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

In a forest ecosystem with various organisms, which group is primarily responsible for carrying out photosynthesis?

• all organisms in the forest

• only animals

• only decomposers

• only plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Lily and Avery are observing a herd of deer in a forest where the deer eat the leaves of trees. They notice that the number of energy storage molecules in the trees and in the deer has increased. What has happened to the amount of carbon in the trees and in the deer? The amount of carbon in the trees and in the deer . . .

• has increased.

• has decreased.

• has not changed.

• is not related to the number of energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Abigail is studying sea grass that has had the sun shining on it for most of the day. What can the sea grass do because it is in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the sea grass?

• 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.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows the sea grass 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

A tortoise is basking in the sun while eating a leafy plant. Is carbon being absorbed from the atmosphere, released into the atmosphere, or both?

• Carbon is only being absorbed from the atmosphere; it is not being released.

• Carbon is being released into the atmosphere and absorbed from it at the same time.

• There is no way to determine this with the given information.

• Carbon is only being released into the atmosphere; it is not being absorbed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

In a sealed aquarium containing water, plants, and fish that feed on the plants, light can enter through the glass sides. The aquarium can be covered to block the light. Initially, the energy storage molecules in the plants and fish were low, but they have been increasing over time. Has the aquarium been exposed to sunlight or kept in darkness during this period? What has happened to the carbon levels in the water?

• The aquarium has been kept in darkness, resulting in less carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been kept in darkness, resulting in more carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been exposed to sunlight, resulting in more carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been exposed to sunlight, resulting in less carbon in the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Abigail and Liam are studying cellular respiration in a jungle ecosystem that has plants, animals, and decomposers (which consume dead things). Which group or groups of organisms in the jungle carry out cellular respiration?

• plants

• animals and decomposers

• all organisms in the jungle

• animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Giant kelp are plantlike organisms that thrive in sunlit ocean waters. Recently, some kelp has absorbed carbon from its surroundings. Is the kelp exposed to sunlight? What change has occurred in the quantity of energy storage molecules within the kelp?

• is exposed to sunlight, and the quantity of energy storage molecules in the kelp has decreased.

• is exposed to sunlight, and the quantity of energy storage molecules in the kelp has increased.

• is not exposed to sunlight, and the quantity of energy storage molecules in the kelp has decreased.

• is not exposed to sunlight, and the quantity of energy storage molecules in the kelp has increased.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3