Ecology

1. Ecology

2. S4L1. Students will describe the roles of organisms and the flow of energy within an ecosystem. a. Identify the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in a community. b. Demonstrate the flow of energy through a food web/food chain beginning with sunlight and including producers, consumers, and decomposers. c. Predict how changes in the environment would affect a community (ecosystem) of organisms. d. Predict effects on a population if some of the plants or animals in the community are scarce or if there are too many. Ecology

3. S4L2. Students will identify factors that affect the survival or extinction of organisms such as adaptation, variation of behaviors (hibernation), and external features (camouflage and protection). a. Identify external features of organisms that allow them to survive or reproduce better than organisms that do not have these features (for example: camouflage, use of hibernation, protection, etc.). b. Identify factors that may have led to the extinction of some organisms. Ecology

4. Internet links/games—p. 1 page 2 page 3 CRCT #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 #21 #22 #23 #24 #25 #26 #27 #28 #29 #30 #31 #32 #33 #34 #35 #36 #37 #38 #39 #40 #41 #42 #43 #44 #45 #46 #47 #48 #49 #50 #51 #52 #53 #54 #55 #56 #57 #58 #59 #60 #61 #62 #63 #64 #65 #66 #67 #68 #69 #70 #71 #72 #73 #74 #75 #76 #77 #78 #79 #80 #81 #82 #83 #84 #85 #86 #87 #88 #89 #90 #91 #92 #93 #94 #95 #96 #97 #98 #99 #100 #101 #102 #103 #104 #105 #106 #107 #108 Ecology Table of Contents Videos

5. Ecology Links—page 1 Go to Links p.2 Kids Do Ecology Surfnet for Kids—Ecology Games Kids Recycle Page EcoKids Enchanted Learning—Food Chains BrainPop—Food Chains Table of Contents

6. Ecology #2 Yucky Worm World Biomes of the World Producers, Consumers, Decomposers Game(from Sheppherd’s Software). Mrs. Smith’s Ecology links Table of Contents

7. Ecology #3 Biomes movie from KidsKnowIt Rags to Riches Biome Game Animal Adaptations Game EekoWorld Videos--Biomes Table of Contents

8. Ecology Videos page 1 The Food Chain Mystery (15 min) Follow the flow of energy through the food chain from the sun to producers, consumers, and decomposers. Vivid animations using a linear food chain and an energy pyramid show how energy passes through the food chain. Other concepts include photosynthesis, predator-prey relationships, herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Threats to Biodiversity: Why We Should Care (24 min) Animal and plant species are becoming extinct at an even faster rate than when the dinosaurs’ disappeared millions of years ago. This threat to biodiversity, the diversity of all living things that inhabit the oceans and continents, is unprecedented. The explosive population growth of humans has put all other species at risk. Using a case study approach, this program focuses on four species that represent different types of animals and geographic locations. Animals Around Us: Animal Adaptations: What Are They? (14 min) Explore fascinating examples of how animals have adapted to their environments. From pronghorns to frogs and bison to fish, this program explains the role of physical and behavioral adaptations in the survival of animals. E X C E L L E N T Animated Book—Working on the Food Chain (scroll down near the bottom of the page) Table of Contents

9. Ecology Videos page 2 Educational Mini-Movies for Ecology NASAWhy?Files - Food Web (2002) 2 min. 21 sec http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ecosystems/id384509123?i=85150609

10. Ecology CRCT #1 Answer Key 1. Which bird's foot below is best for grasping prey? Table of Contents

11. Ecology CRCT #2 Answer Key 2. The picture below shows a flower with a long slender bloom . The size and shape of a bird's beak are related to the type of food that the bird eats. Which of the following beaks is suitable for drinking nectar located deep within flowers such as the one shown above? Table of Contents

12. Ecology CRCT #3 Answer Key 3. Moths have mouthparts that allow them to suck nectar from plants. Which of the following is most similar to the mouthparts of a moth? Table of Contents

13. Ecology CRCT #4 Answer Key 4. The picture below shows a bird. • From the shape of its beak and the length of its legs, this bird is best adapted for feeding on which of the following? • insects that feed on plants • B. small fish in shallow water • C. nuts from riverside trees and plants • D. birds in ground nests Table of Contents

14. Ecology CRCT #5 Answer Key • 5. A lizard's tail breaks very easily. How does this help to protect the lizard? • The lizard can leave pieces of its tail to mark its territory. • B. During a food shortage, the lizard can break off its tail and eat it. • C. The lizard can leave broken pieces of tail to fool predators or to attract a mate. • D. If a predator catches the lizard by the tail, the tail breaks off and the lizard gets away. Table of Contents

15. Ecology CRCT #6 Answer Key • 6. Which characteristic helps slugs protect themselves? • Slugs move slowly. • B. Slugs eat only plants. • C. Slugs enrich the soil. • D. Slugs have a foul-tasting coat. Table of Contents

16. Ecology CRCT #7 Answer Key • 7. All of the following adaptations are used by penguins to keep warm EXCEPT • an insulating layer of blubber. • B. closely packed feathers. • C. a short, sharp beak. • D. a dense coat of two-layered feathers. Table of Contents

17. Ecology CRCT #8 Answer Key • 8. How are stinkbugs and skunks similar? • They both use a horrible smell that repels predators. • B. They both have black and white colors that scare predators. • C. They both are fast and can run away from predators. • D. They both hide in holes when predators come near. Table of Contents

18. Ecology CRCT #9 Answer Key • 9. Which organism is the best example of a predator? • mouse • B. deer • C. fox • D. duck Table of Contents

19. Ecology CRCT #10 Answer Key • 10. Use the food chain below to answer this question. • grass grasshopper mouse hawk • Which of the living things in the food chain is a producer? • hawk • B. mouse • C. grasshopper • D. grass Table of Contents

20. Ecology CRCT #11 Answer Key • 11. Ghost crabs live on sandy beaches. Their name infers a protective adaptation due to their • light color. • B. large pincers. • C. digging behavior. • D. ability to outrun predators. Table of Contents

21. Ecology CRCT #12 Answer Key • 12. The role of the producer in any community is to • produce space. • B. produce nutrients. • C. produce carbon dioxide. • D. produce food. Table of Contents

22. Ecology CRCT #13 Answer Key • 13. An animal that eats only plants is called • a herbivore. • B. an omnivore. • C. a carnivore. • D. a scavenger. Table of Contents

23. Ecology CRCT #14 Answer Key • 14. Which is the BEST example of an adaptation used to cause confusion when a group of animals tries to run away from a predator? • stripes on a zebra • B. smell from a skunk • C. long neck of a giraffe • D. long ears of a rabbit Table of Contents

24. Ecology CRCT #15 Answer Key • 15. Which coloring in animals acts as a warning signal to predators? • green colors that match leaves and grass • B. dark browns, blacks, and greys • C. bright colors such as reds, blues, and oranges • D. light colors such as white and tan Table of Contents

25. Ecology CRCT #16 Answer Key • 16. Insects help flowering plants to reproduce by • bringing water to the plants. • B. breaking off parts of the plants. • C. carrying pollen from plant to plant. • D. eating the seeds of the plants. Table of Contents

26. Ecology CRCT #17 Answer Key • 17. A camel can travel many days without water. Camels usually live in places with • very little rainfall. • B. very little sunshine. • C. many lakes. • D. many plants. Table of Contents

27. Ecology CRCT #18 Answer Key • 18. A producer is a living thing that makes its own food from sunlight. Which of the following is a producer? • human • B. bee • C. cow • D. corn plant Table of Contents

28. Ecology CRCT #19 Answer Key • 19. A clam has a hard shell to protect it. Another animal using a similar form of protection is the • butterfly. • B. zebra. • C. flounder. • D. turtle. Table of Contents

29. Ecology CRCT #20 Answer Key • 20. Which characteristic helps the animal get food? • a crow's black color • B. a squirrel's bushy tail • C. a crayfish's strong claw • D. a turtle's hard shell Table of Contents

30. Ecology CRCT #21 Answer Key • 21. Rabbits have good hearing and can run very fast. These abilities help rabbits • gather food more easily. • B. escape from predators. • C. move quietly through brush. • D. raise their babies. Table of Contents

31. Ecology CRCT #22 Answer Key 22. A camel can travel many days without drinking. Camels usually live in places with A. very little rainfall. B. very little sunshine. C. many lakes. D. many plants. Table of Contents

32. Ecology CRCT #23 Answer Key • 23. A long neck helps the giraffe • eat grass in fields. • B. eat leaves on trees. • C. cross rivers and streams. • D. protect itself from tigers. Table of Contents

33. Ecology CRCT #24 Answer Key • 24. An alpine chipmunk senses that it is time to hibernate when • it starts to get hungry. • B. there is enough fat on its body. • C. the weather turns cold. • D. its hair turns white. Table of Contents

34. Ecology CRCT #25 Answer Key • 25. The color of a polar bear's fur helps it to • sneak up on seals. • B. run in the snow. • C. swim in cold water. • D. find its den in the snow. Table of Contents

35. Ecology CRCT #26 Answer Key • 26. Plants make their own food. When used this way, the word "food" means something that • usually tastes good. • B. contains stored energy. • C. needs sunlight and carbon dioxide. • D. is eaten only by animals. Table of Contents

36. Ecology CRCT #27 Answer Key • 27. The rattle helps the rattlesnake • swallow food. • B. scare predators. • C. catch prey. • D. stay warm. Table of Contents

37. Ecology CRCT #28 Answer Key • 28. The big eyes of the owl help it • hide in the trees. • B. find mice at night. • C. sleep during the day. • D. scare away insects. Table of Contents

38. Ecology CRCT #29 Answer Key • 29. Green plants are important to animals because the plants • consume both food and carbon dioxide. • B. consume food and give off oxygen. • C. produce food and give off oxygen. • D. produce food and give off carbon dioxide. Table of Contents

39. Ecology CRCT #30 Answer Key • 30. The skunk's odor, the bee's sting, and the turtle's shell are all used for • camouflage. • B. protection. • C. establishing territories. • D. communication. Table of Contents

40. Ecology CRCT #31 Answer Key • 31. A green frog's color MOSTLY helps it to • reproduce. • B. hide. • C. avoid harmful rays from the Sun. • D. stay warm during the winter. Table of Contents

41. Ecology CRCT #32 Answer Key • 32. The type of animal with the BEST chance of surviving in a rain forest is one that • only eats the leaves of a rare forest tree. • B. lives in trees and eats insects. • C. lives on the ground and eats a variety of leaves, fruits, and insects. • D. only eats fruit from vines growing high in the trees. Table of Contents

42. Ecology CRCT #33 Answer Key • 33. A grasshopper is an insect that is light green in color. Birds like to eat grasshoppers. Grasshoppers • would be safest on • blades of grass. • B. flower petals. • C. the bark of trees. • D. wooden fence posts. Table of Contents

43. Ecology CRCT #34 Answer Key • 34. Which statement about living things is MOST correct? • Most living things can grow anywhere. • B. Each kind of living thing has special needs that must be met. • C. Living things do not need other kinds of living things. • D. Living things can change to suit their surroundings. Table of Contents

44. Ecology CRCT #35 Answer Key • 35. The oxygen we breathe is put in the air by • the Sun. • B. other animals. • C. volcanoes. • D. plants. Table of Contents

45. Ecology CRCT #36 Answer Key • 36. Many birds fly south before winter. This movement is known as • hibernation. • B. migration. • C. reflex action. • D. adaptation. Table of Contents

46. Ecology CRCT #37 Answer Key • 37. An animal that has thick fur, webbed feet, and • blubber would probably live in the • Arctic Ocean. • B. Amazon rain forest. • C. Intracoastal Waterway in Georgia. • D. Mojave Desert in California. Table of Contents

47. Ecology CRCT #38 Answer Key • 38. Which of the following is most responsible for making a fallen tree decay and become an important part of the soil? • moisture • B. sunlight • C. insects • D. bacteria Table of Contents

48. Ecology CRCT #39 Answer Key • 39. Which living thing makes its own food? • insect • B. plant • C. mushroom • D. mammal Table of Contents

49. Ecology CRCT #40 Answer Key • 40. The spiny lizard, native to the southwestern United States, moves its body in relation to the Sun. It is sometimes seen lying perpendicular to the Sun's rays and at other times it can be seen lying parallel to the Sun's rays. It does this to obtain • maximum camouflage. • B. successful courtship of potential mates. • C. a varied diet of different insects. • D. a steady body temperature. Table of Contents

50. Ecology CRCT #41 Answer Key • 41. The color (pigmentation) of a frog's skin helps it to • hide. • B. breathe. • C. swim. • D. croak. Table of Contents