Organisms & Environments Task Cards

Organisms & Environments Task Cards

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1. List at least 3 different food chains in this food web that begin with plants. 2. Which organism in this food web provides energy for the greatest number of consumers? 3. Give an example of a producer consumer relationship. 4. Give an example of an autotroph and heterotroph relationship.

5. A broadleaf herbicide, or weed killer, is applied to the ecosystem. Which consumers are least affected? Explain your answer. 6. If deer were removed from this ecosystem, which plant would be most affected? Why? 7. What organism(s) would be impacted the most if carrots were removed from the food web? Explain your answer. 8. Bald eagles eat rabbits and lizards. How would this ecosystem be impacted if bald eagles were introduced into the ecosystem?

9. Use this food chain to fill in the energy pyramid. Determine the amount of energy transferred to each level if there were 10,000 kj available from the producers. Fill in the organisms, the kj, and the percentage of energy available at each level. 10. What percentage of the energy from the producer level is available to the herbivores? A) 1% B) 10% C) 90% D) 100% 11. Which level of an energy pyramid contains the least amount of original energy provided by the Sun? A) producers B) herbivores C) primary consumers D) secondary consumers 12. Which statement is best supported by the diagram? A) Herbivores receive energy from secondary consumers. B) Plants receive energy from carnivores. C) Primary consumers provide energy to carnivores. D) Secondary consumers provide energy to producers.

13. Which organism in the food chain is considered a primary consumer? 14. Read the list of words below. Which word does not belong in the group? On your answer document, record the word that doesn t belong and fill in the reasoning. water grass air temperature 15. Read the list of words below. Which word does not belong in the group? On your answer document, record the word that doesn t belong and fill in the reasoning. 16. Read the list of words below. Which word does not belong in the group? On your answer document, record the word that doesn t belong and fill in the reasoning. fungi mold cabbage mushroom flea tick tapeworm earthworm

17. Read the clue below. On your answer document record a (+) if the organism is helped, a (-) if the organism is harmed, or a (0) if the organism is not affected. Then label each interaction as either mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism. Athlete s foot is caused by a fungus growing on the skin of humans. The fungus causes irritation as it uses the skin of the foot as food. 18. Read the clue below. On your answer document record a (+) if the organism is helped, a (-) if the organism is harmed, or a (0) if the organism is not affected. Then label each interaction as either mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism. A bee feeds on the nectar in the flower of a hibiscus plants and gets pollen on the hairs of its legs. When the bee flies to another hibiscus plant, the pollen is transferred to another flower, resulting in pollination of the plant. 19. Read the clue below. On your answer document record a (+) if the organism is helped, a (-) if the organism is harmed, or a (0) if the organism is not affected. Then label each interaction as either mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism. A cowbird pushes the eggs of a songbird out of its nest and lays its own eggs in the nest. The songbird sits on the eggs until they hatch and takes care of the baby cowbirds as its own. The songbird uses a great deal of energy to feed and care for baby birds that are not its own offspring. 20. Read the clue below. On your answer document record a (+) if the organism is helped, a (-) if the organism is harmed, or a (0) if the organism is not affected. Then label each interaction as either mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism. An orchid plant grows on the branch of a tree and does not harm the tree. The orchid is able to get more sunlight for growth in this location.

21. The relationship of a hookworm attaching itself to the intestines of a human and absorbing nutrients from the human is called- A) commensalism B) mutualism C) competition D) parasitism 22. In the symbiotic relationship between the human and the hookworm, the human is called the - A) producer B) prey C) host D) parasite According to the table, foxes are most likely to compete with which organism for food? A) bobcat B) bighorn sheep C) bacteria D) frogs 23. 24. A group of students investigate the number of foxes found in different ecosystems over a period of time. They observe a gradual decline in the fox population in Ecosystem 2. Their data is recorded in the table above. Which factor most likely limited the fox population in Ecosystem 2? A) temperature C) rainfall B) space D) food

25. A nearby volcano erupts, spewing ash and dust into the air and lava down the side of the mountain. Some animals are able to escape, but all of the trees are knocked down and the vegetation is covered with lava, ash, and dust. The area is barren. The few animals that survived the blast return to their habitat, looking for food and water, but find none. Is this a short-term or long-term environmental change? How do you think organisms respond or responded to these changes? 26. All of the following are examples of environmental changes that can be caused by humans, except - A) pollution B) pesticides C) clearing land for housing developments D) volcanic eruption 27. An organism that is unable to adapt to changes in its environment will most likely - A) produce more offspring B) die C) change its traits in order to survive D) store more food 28. In the 1850s, Thomas Austin released 24 rabbits from Europe into the Australian countryside to use as game for shooting parties. By 1900, tens of millions of rabbits were found all over the Australian continent. The warm Australian climate, plentiful farmland, and crops provided the perfect habitat for the rabbits. The rabbits caused extensive damage to all vegetation, and the lack of plants increased soil erosion. Which of the following statements best describes why the rabbits were so successful? A) The rabbits competed with local herbivores for food. B) The rabbits did not have natural predators. C) Erosion of soil benefited the rabbits. D) Diseases helped decrease rabbit populations.

29. Coral reefs are made up of colonies of organisms that are very sensitive to environmental change. Corals tolerate a narrow range of temperatures and need clear water. Some corals obtain food from algae living inside their bodies and require adequate light for photosynthesis. Other corals are filter feeders and feed on small particles of food in the water. Corals are important for several reasons. Coral communities are diverse and productive. Reefs provide a habitat for many fish and invertebrates. In some regions, coral reefs helps reduce beach erosion. In some areas, sewage treatment plants and large power plants release water directly into the ocean. Frequently, this water is hot and contains nutrients. The effect of this runoff water on coral reefs, would be - A) harmful because it drives away the fish B) harmful because the water becomes too warm C) beneficial because corals use the extra nutrients D) beneficial because the water helps maintain the coastline 30. Artificial reefs, such as old ships, oil rigs, or train cars placed in the ocean by humans, affect the ocean ecosystems. How can these artificial reefs alter the ecosystem? A) Artificial reefs provide more oxygen to organisms. B) Artificial reefs provide a new habitat for organisms. C) Artificial reefs provide less protection to small fish. D) Artificial reefs provide additional locations to drill for oil. 31. Which best explains why the population of prey increased near the end of the timeline shown on the graph? A) Fewer prey were reproducing. B) More predators moved into the area. C) Fewer predators were hunting prey. D) More prey were competing for resources. 32. Explain how a food web could be considered a cycle.

Organisms and Environments Answer Sheet Directions: Use this sheet to record your Organisms and Environments Task Card answers. 1. 2. 16. does not belong Organisms and Environments Answer Sheet Directions: Use this sheet to record your Organisms and Environments Task Card answers. 1. 2. 16. does not belong 3. 4. 5. 17. fungus: human: 18. bee: hibiscus: 3. 4. 5. 17. fungus: human: 18. bee: hibiscus: 6. 7. 19. songbird: cowbird: 6. 7. 19. songbird: cowbird: 8. 20. orchid: tree: 8. 20. orchid: tree: 9. 21. 9. 21. 22. 22. 23. 23. 24. 24. 25. 25. 10. 26. 10. 26. 11. 27. 11. 27. 12. 28. 12. 28. 13. 29. 13. 29. 14. does not belong 30. 31. 14. does not belong 30. 31. 15. does not belong 32. 15. does not belong 32.

Organisms and Environments Answer Sheet Directions: Use this sheet to record your Organisms and Environments Task Card answers. 1. Accept all correct answers. Answers may include: land plants insect sparrow, aquatic plants duck fox, land plants rabbit fox, land plants mouse owl, etc. 2. insect 3. Answers may include: broadleaf weeds & deer, rye grass & rabbit, oats and grasshopper 4. Answers may include: broadleaf weeds & deer, rye grass & rabbit, oats & grasshopper 5. grasshopper & lizard; the grasshopper does not eat the broadleaf plants. Since the grasshopper is not affected by the use of the herbicide, the lizard population will also not be affected. 6. the leaves of trees because there are no other organisms feeding on them 7. the grasshopper & lizard (grasshopper because it has only 2 food sources; the lizard s only food source is the grasshopper) 8. The lizard and rabbit population would decrease. The wolf may suffer a loss of some food sources, but the deer is still available. The deer population may experience more predation by the wolf. 9. 1O 10. B 11. D 12. C 13. insect 1 0.1 hawk snake mouse grass 14. grass does not belong an abiotic factor 15. cabbage does not belong a member of the Fungi Kingdom or a decomposer; cabbage photosynthesizes and the others do not 10 100 1,000 16. earthworm does not belong a parasite 17. fungus: human: 18. bee: + hibiscus: + mutualism 19. songbird: cowbird: 20. orchid: tree: 21. D 22. C 23. A 24. B 25. Volcanic eruptions are usually a long-term environmental change. Some organisms may have migrated to a similar, but unaffected environment close by. The organisms that returned to the destroyed habitat would likely die due to lack of water and food. 26. D 27. B 28. B 29. B 30. B 31. C + - parasitism - parasitism + commensalism 32. Energy is passed from producers to consumers. When an organism dies, decomposers break down the organism s tissues into valuable materials that are then returned to the ecosystem. The cycle continues as producers use these material/nutrients. O +

Organisms and Environments Answer Sheet Directions: Use this sheet to record your Organisms and Environments Task Card answers. 1. Accept all correct answers. Answers may include: land plants insect sparrow, aquatic plants duck fox, land plants rabbit fox, land plants mouse owl, etc. 2. insect 3. Answers may include: broadleaf weeds & deer, rye grass & rabbit, oats and grasshopper 4. Answers may include: broadleaf weeds & deer, rye grass & rabbit, oats & grasshopper 5. grasshopper & lizard; the grasshopper does not eat the broadleaf plants. Since the grasshopper is not affected by the use of the herbicide, the lizard population will also not be affected. 16. earthworm does not belong a parasite 17. fungus: + human: - parasitism 18. bee: + hibiscus: + mutualism 6. the leaves of trees because there are no other organisms feeding on them 7. the grasshopper & lizard (grasshopper because it has only 2 food sources; the lizard s only food source is the grasshopper) 8. The lizard and rabbit population would decrease. The wolf may suffer a loss of some food sources, but the deer is still available. The deer population may experience more predation by the wolf. 9. 1O 10. B 11. D 12. C 13. insect 1 0.1 hawk snake mouse grass 14. grass does not belong an abiotic factor 15. cabbage does not belong a member of the Fungi Kingdom or a decomposer; cabbage photosynthesizes and the others do not 10 100 1,000 19. songbird: - cowbird: + parasitism 20. orchid: + tree: O commensalism 21. D 22. C 23. A 24. B 25. Volcanic eruptions are usually a long-term environmental change. Some organisms may have migrated to a similar, but unaffected environment close by. The organisms that returned to the destroyed habitat would likely die due to lack of water and food. 26. D 27. B 28. B 29. B 30. B 31. C 32. Energy is passed from producers to consumers. When an organism dies, decomposers break down the organism s tissues into valuable materials that are then returned to the ecosystem. The cycle continues as producers use these material/nutrients.