Grade 3 Science

Student Study Guide: Ecosystems

The main ideas for this unit include:

 Living things in an ecosystem depend on other living things and nonliving

things for basic needs: food, water, air, shelter, and space.

 A habitat is a place where organisms live.

 Changes in an ecosystem affect the living things there.

For example, if a fire destroys a forest, many animals will lose their homes and
their food source.

 When there is a change in the ecosystem, organisms may

1. Die
2. Move to a new habitat
3. Adapt and stay

 Adaptations are behaviors or structures that help an organism survive in its

environment.
For example, the hawk has excellent eyesight to help it see its prey on the ground
while it is flying.

 Adaptations start as variations. Over many generations, the variation

becomes what is expected for the species.
Remember those little fish by the coral reef in the BrainPop video? There were
variations in their color. The brightly colored fish were easily seen and more likely
to be eaten. The dark colored fish blended in with the reef and had a better
chance of surviving. Over time, all the brightly colored fish were eaten and the
remaining fish were dark colored. They passed their dark color on to their
offspring and now, fish by the reef are dark colored.

 Organisms that cannot adapt to the changed environment may die. If

enough of a species die, the species may become endangered or extinct.

 Fossils are the hardened parts or marks left by plants or animals that lived
long ago.