Download Science Study Guide: Ecosystems and Adaptations

Science Study Guide: Ecosystems and Adaptations
Unit C: Chapters 7 and 8
Vocabulary:
consumer – an animal that eats plants or other animals
producer – a plant that makes its own food
ecosystem – the living and nonliving things in an area
population – a group of the same kind of living things in an ecosystem
decomposer – a living thing that feeds on remains of plants and animals
adaptation – a body part or behavior that helps a living thing survive
camouflage – an adaptation that helps an animal hide form predators
extinction – the loss of a kind of living thing
hibernation – an inactive state during which normal body activities slow
instinct – behavior that an animal is born with
migration – movement from one area to another
herbivore – an animal that eats only plants
carnivore – an animal that only eats other animals
omnivore - an animal that eats both plants and animals
prey – consumers (mice, rabbits, deer) that are eaten by other animals
predator – animals that hunt, kill, and eat other animals
biotic – the living parts of an ecosystem. (plants, animals, insects)
food web – a group of food chains that overlap
Concepts:
 During a drought, the available resources of a habitat will decrease.
 In a food chain there are both producers and consumers. If the number of
consumers increases, the number of producers will decrease. An example would
be if the rabbits in a community increased, the number of plants and grasses
would decrease.
 Different species of animals can coexist in a community because they have
different roles or niches. This allows them to share the same resources.
 Biotic factors can change an environment. Kudzu is a vine that can kill trees by
covering them up and blocking sunlight.
 When a species becomes very rare it is called endangered.
 When a species disappears completely it is extinct.
 A species can become extinct during a severe climate change, the number of
predators increases, its source of food disappears, or its habitat is destroyed.
 Hibernation and migration are both examples of instinct.
 Camouflage uses color or shape to help animals blend in with their surroundings.
 Cutting down forests disturbs or destroys habitats.
 Understand food chains. (example) grass
mice
snake
 All producers (grass, plants, trees) get their energy from the sun.