Download MS - LS2 - 2 Construct an explanation that predicts

Name _______________________ Date ____________ Science Block ____________
MS - LS2 - 2
Construct an explanation that predicts​ ​patterns of​ ​interactions among organisms across
multiple ecosystems.
A. I understand prey and predator interactions
Directions: Read the following facts and answer 1-3
The Couch’s spadefoot frog has these characteristics.
• Adults eat insects and spiders.
• Adults live in holes they dig using special “spades” on their rear feet.
• Adults have mottled brown back and light-colored bellies.
• Their pupils are vertical slits
• Their eggs and tadpoles develop quickly in temporary ponds that form after rain.
1. What resource is most likely scarce in their environment.
2. What would happen to the frog population if that resource ( answer to # 1) did not occur over years
time.
3. What would happen to the spider population should that resource (answer to # 1) not occur.
B. I can explain the three relationships of symbiosis and give examples (mutualism, parasitism,
and commensalism)
Directions: Label 4-6 with either mutualism, parasitism or commensalism:
4. ________________ The spider crab and the algae. Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the ocean
floor, and greenish-brown algae lives on the crabs' backs, making the crabs blend in with their
environment, and unnoticeable to predators. The algae gets a good place to live, and the crab gets
camouflage.
5.________________ Remora fish are small fish that make their niche by picking up the scraps that
sharks leave behind while feeding. The shark makes no attempt to prey on the remora fish.
6.________________ ​The Monarch butterfly is a well-known type of butterfly found commonly in the
North American region. The milkweeds contain a poisonous chemical known as cardiac glycoside,
which is harmful to almost all vertebrates. The Monarch stores these poisonous chemicals in its body
throughout its lifespan. When a bird eats a Monarch butterfly, it finds it distasteful, and gets sick.
Thus, they avoid eating it.
C. I can identify ways in which abiotic and biotic factors interact in an ecosystem.
Directions: Label 7-16 as Biotic or Abiotic.
7. Deer ___________
8. Volcano ___________
9. Fern ___________
10. Elephant ___________
11. Mushroom ___________
12. Fish ___________
13. Soil ___________
14. Sunlight ___________
15. Weather ___________
16. River ___________
Directions: Answer the following questions:
17. List at least 2 abiotic factors that limit organisms in an ecosystem.
18. What happens to abiotic factors when biotic populations increase?
19 . Explain how organisms compete for abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
D. I can explain predictions of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
South African Desert Food Web
Directions: Choose two species from the South African Dessert Food Web above and answer the
following questions:
Type of
relationship
/ interaction
20.
(Competition
for abiotic
resources)
21.
(Predation)
22.
Mutualism
(Symbiosis)
Species 1
Species 2
What predictions can you make about the interactions of
these two species?
Pacific Woodland Food Web
Directions: Choose two species from the Pacific Woodland Food Web above and answer the following
questions:
Type of
relationship
/ interaction
23.
(Competition
for abiotic
resources)
24.
(Predation)
25.
Mutualism
(Symbiosis)
Species 1
Species 2
What predictions can you make about the interactions of
these two species?
26. Using your answers from #20 - 25 what patterns of interactions do you see across the two ecosystems?