Life Science Test Study Guide

Vocabulary:
Ecosystem interaction of organisms with their physical environment (living & non-living)
Organism living things
Energy Pyramid a diagram showing the loss of energy at each feeding level
Trophic Level the levels on an energy pyramid are called trophic levels
Consumer an organism that gets its energy (food) by eating another organism
Producer an organism that uses the sun's energy to make its own food
Decomposer an organism that gets its energy from breaking down decaying organic material. The role of
decomposers is the recycling of nutrients throughout the ecosystem. (ex, - fungi, earthworms, mushrooms)
Carnivore a consumer that eats other consumers
Herbivore a consumer that eats producers
Omnivore a consumer that eats both consumers and producers
Competition relationship between two or more organisms in which they compete for resources
( shelter, food, water, mates, etc )
Adaptation -

a change in order to fit a new situation or use

Predation relationship between organisms in which one organism eats the other organism for food.
Symbiosis relationship (usually long term) between two organisms in which at least one benefits
Mutualism symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit from the interaction
Parisitism symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while harming the other organism
Commensalism symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other organism is
neither harmed nor benefited.
Terrestrial - Having to do with land or the Earth.
Terrarium a closed glass or plastic container where terrestrial (land) organisms can live and be observed
Energy Pyramid Animals do not have the ability to produce their own food. Animals must get their energy by
eating plants, or by eating other animals that have eaten plants.
Food Chain - graphic representation that traces energy flow in an ecosystem;
for example:

sun > plants > fish > raccoon

Photosynthesis - All living things get energy from food. It begins with the sun. The sun provides heat and light
energy which plants use to make their food in a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis takes place
when plants use sunlight in order to produce sugars. These sugars can then be used by the plant as food.

Know the characteristics of the following land biomes:

Tropical Rainforest
Deciduous Forest
Grasslands
Taiga
Tundra
Desert
Know the characteristics of the following water ecosystems as well as the animals that live there:
Rivers
Wetlands
Coral Reefs
Ocean

Be able to explain the following topics

Competition between organisms - All ecosystems have a limited amount of resources. The organisms living
there must compete for what they need. Competition helps to keep populations steady and helps to maintain a
balanced environment.
When organisms do not get enough food, space, or light from their ecosystem, they respond by reproducing
less, moving, adapting, or dying out.
Interdependency
All organisms, including humans cause changes in their ecosystems. These changes can be beneficial
(good), neutral (neither good nor bad), or detrimental (bad).
beneficial
o Worms aerate the soil.
o People plant trees.
o People set aside areas of land as parks
detrimental
o Swarms of grasshoppers can eat huge amounts of grasses and other plants, including farmers
crops like hay or corn.
o Humans use very large amounts of resources, such as water and trees.
o People build towns and cities where once there were once forests and prairies.
o People bring plants and animals into new areas where they compete with native species and
sometimes cause them to die out.

Food Web several food chains linked together

Understandings and skills:

How energy and materials flow through an ecosystem

Be able to draw a food web to show the transfer of energy between organisms.

Be able to identify producers, consumers, and decomposers in a food web.

Be able to draw an energy pyramid to show the transfer of energy in an ecosystem.

Know the rule of 10. Only 10% of the energy in an energy pyramid is passed on to the next trophic
level. ( example: Only 10% of the energy produced from grass is passed on to the cow that eats
it. Only 10% of the energy a cow consumes is passed on to the farmer who eats it.)

Describe and give examples of the three types of interactions between organisms discussed in class
(competition, predation, symbiosis).

Describe and give examples of three types of symbiosis (mutualism, parisitism, commensalism).

Explain how interrelationships between organisms enable some organisms to survive.

Explain how humans influences may help or harm ecosystems.

Explain how natural events (i.e. flooding, overpopulation) can help or harm ecosystems.

Study Jams
Ecosystems
The Kingdoms of Life
Photosynthesis
Aquatic Ecosystems
Changes in Ecosystems
Biomes
Food Chains
Food Webs
Population Growth

Standards for Life Science (Category 4)

3.9.A observe and describe the physical characteristics of environments and how
they support populations and communities within an ecosystem
5.9. A observe the way organisms live and survive in their ecosystem by interacting
with the living and nonliving elements
5.9.B describe how the flow of energy derived from the Sun, used by producers to
create their own food, is transferred through a food chain and food web to
consumers and decomposers
5.10.A compare the structures and functions of different species that help them
live and survive such as overpopulation of grazers or the building of highways
5.9.D identify the significance of the carbon dioxideoxygen cycle to the survival of
plants and animals
3.10.C investigate and compare how animals and plants undergo a series of orderly
changes in their diverse life cycles such as tomato plants, frogs, and lady bugs
Life Cycle of a TOMATO
http://www.abcteach.com/free/t/tomatoplant_lifecycle.pdf
Life Cycle of a FROG (Complete Metamorphosis)

Life Cycle of a LADYBUG (Complete Metamorphosis)

5.10.C describe the differences between complete and incomplete

metamorphosis of insects
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.cyc.lp_lifecycle/life-cycles-offrogs-dragonflies-and-butterflies/
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Themes/frogs/
The majority of insects go through complete metamorphosis. There are four distinct life cycle stages:

egg
larva
pupa
adult

The larva can be worm-like, although you can still see the six legs. The larvae for moths and butterflies are
called caterpillars. Maggots are the larval stage of flies. The larvae eat constantly and grow rapidly.
A hard, protective case forms around the larva: this is the pupa stage. The pupa stage for a butterfly is called a
chrysallis. The pupa stage for a moth is called a cocoon.
Some insects that go through Complete Metamorphosis

Ant
Silkworm
Mealworm
Lady Bug
Butterfly

Incomplete Metamorphosis
Incomplete metamorphosis only has three life cycle stages:

egg
nymph

adult

The nymph looks like a smaller version of the adult, but is wingless. Instead of going into a cocoon, the nymph
grows into an adult by shedding its outer layer or exoskeleton. Once wings develop, the nymph has become an
adult and will no longer shed its outer shell.
Some insects that go through Incomplete Metamorphosis

Cricket
Grasshopper
Stinkbug
Earwig
Cockroach