Ecology

Dive into ecology! Understand food webs, symbiosis, and ecosystem dynamics with our interactive Ecology Worksheet.

Amoeba Sisters: Ecological Relationships Watch the video and answer the questions below. Amoeba Sisters: Food Webs and Energy Pyramids Watch the video and the answer the questions. Match the description with the appropriate level of ecology: A single ant organism A colony of ants Population The ants, grass, and flowers found in a certain area Community The ants, grass, flowers, sun, and soil in a certain area Ecosystem The portion of the earth that supports life Biosphere Complete the levels of ecology from the smallest (most specific) to the broadest: Cells, tissue, organ, organ system, ........ Organism --> Population --> Community --> Ecosystem --> Biosphere Use the following food web to answer the questions below: - The arrows represent energy -- In this food chain, which organism is the producer? grass - In this food chain, which organism is the primary consumer? grasshopper- In this food chain, which organism is the tertiary consumer? snake- In this food chain, which organism is an herbivore? grasshopper - What type of consumers are the frog and the snake? carnivores- If the frog population increased, what would happen to the grasshopper population? It would decrease - If the frog population increased, what would happen to the snake population? It would increase- Which organism has the highest amount of energy? grass- Which organism has the lowest amount of energy? snake- What was the original source of energy in this food web? Sun Symbiosis Review In the table below, use the drop down box to provide a definition and example of each type of symbiosis Definition Mutualism Parasitism Commensalism Definition Symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit Symbiotic relationship where one organisms benefits by harming another organism known as the host Example Ex: Certain birds live on buffalo and eat insects and parasites off of the buffalo Ex: A wasp injects its eggs into another organism and steals the organisms nutrients Ex: Clown fish live amid the tentacles of the sea anemones which protects the fish from predators The main difference between a community and an ecosystem is that a community only includes biotic factors whereas ecosystems include (living)biotic and (nonliving)abiotic factors. Use the word bank to complete the sentences below: 1. A producer is an organism at the beginning of a food chain because they can produce their own food using energy from the sun2. Organisms that feed off of other organisms and cannot make their own are known as heterotrophs3. A nonliving part of the environment is a(n) abioticfactor4. A living part of the environment is a(n) biotic factor5. A consumer that eats only plants is known as a herbivore6. A consumer that eats both plants and animals is called an omnivore7. Energy is transferred through an ecosystem by eating or consuming food and is represented on food chains and food webs using arrows8. Decomposers breakdown decaying organisms and nutrients are put back into the soil by bacteria and fungi Levels of Organization Organism A single living thing Population a group of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time Community A group of different species that live in the same habitat and interact with one another Ecosystem A community of organisms and their non-living environment Biosphere all of the world and it's atmosphere that support life Cell Smallest structural unit of an organism Organ a group of tissue Tissue a group of cells Food Chains and Food Webs Use the food web below to answer the following questions What level of consumer is a wild cat? Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Producer What level of consumer is a goat? Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Producer Which organism can be both a primary and a secondary consumer? Owl Wild Cat Rabbit Snake Types of Growth and Limiting Factors Density Dependent Limiting Factor Type of limiting factor that has a greater effect the larger a population gets Density Independent Limiting Factor Type of limiting factor that has the same effect regardless of population size Separate the limiting factors into density dependent and density independent limiting factors: Density Dependent Limiting Factors Predation Disease Food supply Shelter Density Independent Limiting Factors Human activities such as deforestation Unusual weather patterns Natural Disasters This food chain can be found in the coastal waters of Virginia. The population of which organisms in the food chain would be the first to decline if commercial fishing over-harvested shrimp? Damselfish Zooplankton Algae Barracuda The interaction pictured below represents: Growth Respiration Energy and nutrient transfer Herbivory and decomposition Seaweeds occupy an important niche in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Which question will best help a student identify the role of seaweeds in this ecosystem? Which organisms depend on seaweeds as an energy source? Which seaweed species produces the greatest amount of oxygen? What wavelengths of light are photosynthesized by seaweed species? What is the salinity in areas where seaweed is growing? A hummingbird's bill is long and thin, allowing it to gather nectar deep into flowers. The flowers benefit from the pollination performed by the hummingbird. This relationship is best described as: Mutualism Commensalism Competition Neutralism What is the total amount of energy lost if there is 1,000 joules at the secondary consumer level? (Pyramid will only go to tertiary level) 9,900 99,900 900 999