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WorksheetsMatter and Energy in an Ecosystem
Total questions: 14
Worksheet time: 8mins
Algae are plantlike organisms that live in the water. These algae have been in sunlight for several hours now. What can the algae do because they are in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the algae? The algae can . . .
take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.
take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules.
give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows them to make energy storage molecules.
give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.
Dugongs are animals that live in the ocean and eat underwater grasses. The sun is shining on the shallow ocean water where the grasses and dugongs live. What is happening to the carbon in the water around the grasses and the dugongs? Is carbon moving into the water, moving out of the water, or both?
Carbon is not moving into the water; it is only moving out of the water.
With this information, there is no way to know for sure.
Carbon is moving into the water and out of the water, at the same time.
Carbon is only moving into the water; it is not moving out of the water.
A scientist built a model ecosystem that contains air, plants, and animals that eat those plants. It is sealed so no material can get in or out, but the glass sides allow light to get in. The model ecosystem can also be covered to prevent light from entering. The amount of carbon in the air inside the model ecosystem started out high. Now the amount of carbon in the air is decreasing. Is the model ecosystem now in sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants and animals as a result?
The model ecosystem is in sunlight, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.
The model ecosystem is in sunlight, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.
The model ecosystem is covered so no light gets in, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.
The model ecosystem is covered so no light gets in, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and animals.
These pea plants have been in the sunlight since early morning. What can the pea plants do because they are in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the pea plants? The pea plants can…
give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows them to make energy storage molecules.
give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.
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.
Hippos spend most of their time in rivers, but they come out of the water to eat grass. Right now, it's the middle of the night. The sun is not shining, and the hippos are not eating. What is happening to the carbon in the air around the hippos and the grass nearby?
Carbon is not moving into the air; it is only moving out of the air.
With this information, there is no way to know for sure.
Carbon is moving into the air and out of the air, at the same time.
Carbon is only moving into the air; it is not moving out of the air.
Julietta has a glass ball filled with water. In the water are tiny plants and shrimp that eat the plants. No material can get in or out, but sunlight can get through the glass. The glass ball can also be covered to prevent light from entering. The number of energy storage molecules in the plants and shrimp started out low but now it is increasing. Is the glass ball in sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the carbon in the water inside the glass ball?
The glass ball is covered so no light gets in, and there is more carbon in the water now than there was before.
The glass ball is covered so no light gets in, and there is less carbon in the water now than there was before.
The glass ball is in sunlight, and there is less carbon in the water now than there was before.
The glass ball is in sunlight, and there is more carbon in the water now than there was before.
Some trees are taking in carbon from the air around them. Are the trees in sunlight? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the trees? The trees . . .
are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is decreasing.
are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is increasing.
are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is increasing.
are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the trees is decreasing.
Parrotfish live in the ocean and eat plantlike organisms called algae. Sunlight is shining on the fish and the algae. Is carbon moving into the living things, moving out of the living things, or both?
Carbon is moving into and out of the living things, at the same time.
Carbon is only moving into the living things; it is not moving out of them.
Carbon is only moving out of the living things; it is not moving into them.
There is no way to know for sure, with this information.
Bonnie has an aquarium filled with water, plants, and fish that eat those plants. It is sealed so no material can get in or out, but the glass sides allow light to get in. The aquarium can also be covered to prevent light from entering. The amount of carbon in the water started out low. Now, the amount of carbon in the water is increasing. Is the aquarium now in light or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the living things?
The aquarium is covered (so it's dark), and there are more energy storage molecules in the living things.
The aquarium is covered (so it's dark), and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the living things.
The aquarium is in the light, and there are more energy storage molecules in the living things.
The aquarium is in the light, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the living things.
Some rice plants on a hillside are taking in carbon from the air around them.Are the plants in sunlight? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants? The plants . . .
are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is increasing.
are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is decreasing.
are not in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is decreasing.
are in sunlight, and the number of energy storage molecules in the plants is increasing.
This zebra is eating grass on a sunny day. Is carbon moving into the living things, moving out of the living things, or both?
Carbon is moving into and out of the living things at the same time.
Carbon is only moving into the living things; it is not moving out of them.
Carbon is only moving out of the living things; it is not moving into them.
With this information, there is no way to know for sure.
A scientist built a model ecosystem that contains air, plants, and animals that eat those plants. The model ecosystem is sealed so no material can get in or out, but the glass sides allow light in when the scientist switches the light on. When the scientist switches the light off, the model ecosystem is in the dark. The number of energy storage molecules in the plants and animals inside the model ecosystem started out high. Then the number of energy storage molecules began to decrease. Was the decrease because the light was switched on or because it was switched off? What happened to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air?
The scientist switched the light off, and there is less carbon dioxide in the air.
The scientist switched the light off, and there is more carbon dioxide in the air.
The scientist switched the light off, and there is more carbon dioxide in the air.
The scientist switched the light on, and there is more carbon dioxide in the air.
A group of engineers has created a biodome filled, with air, plants, and animals. No material can get in or out, but sunlight can get in during the daytime. The walls of the biodome are made of a material that absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide from the air so it is not available to the living things inside. What do you predict will happen to carbon in the air over time? How could this affect the living things in the dome.
As organisms use energy storage molecules through cellular respiration, they give off carbon dioxide to the air.
Over time, there will be less carbon in the air because the carbon dioxide that living things give off will be absorbed into the walls.
Because carbon in the wall is increasing, it is decreasing everywhere else—in the air and in the living things.
When this happens, the plants will do less photosynthesis, and make fewer energy storage molecules
If fewer energy storage molecules are available to the plants and animals, then living things will start to die.
Kai has a see-through glass tank with air, plants, and animals that eat those plants. He sealed the tank so no material can get into or out of it, but light can get in when the tank is not covered. The light for the tank has been on all day, and Kai measured the carbon in the air and found that it is decreasing. How is carbon moving between the air and the living things in the tank? What is happening to the amount of carbon in living things? Explain your thinking as completely as possible.
Since the tank is exposed to light, the plants are performing photosynthesis.
This means carbon dioxide from the air is moving into living things so the plants can use the carbon to make energy storage molecules, which is why carbon in the air is decreasing.
I also know that some carbon is moving out of living things into the air, because the organisms are giving off carbon dioxide as they use up energy storage molecules through cellular respiration.
Since the amount of carbon in the air is decreasing, the amount of carbon in living things is increasing. This is because it is a closed ecosystem and there is a set amount of carbon—it can’t be produced or used up.
