Download Study Guide KEY - Kawameeh Middle School

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _____________________
6th Grade Science – Midterm Study Guide
Period: ___________________
1. Define species: a group of similar organisms that can mate and reproduce fertile
offspring
2. Define community: all of the populations (different species) in the same area at the
same time
3. What are the three types of adaptations? Structural, functional, behavioral
4. Behaviors help animals do what? Survive and/or reproduce
5. What is the purpose of mating dances? Attract a mate of the same species
6. What is the purpose of hibernation? Survive winter while food supply is sparce
7. What is the purpose of building a nest?
A place to lay eggs and keep them warm; protect young from
predators
8. What type of nest is in the picture to the left?
A cup nest
9. An eagle would build what type of nest? A platform nest
10. What are some examples of pollinators? Bees, birds, insects, bats
11. Define pollination: the process of transferring pollen from male part (anther) to female
part (stigma)
12. What is the purpose of bright colored petals? To attract pollinators
13. Define abiotic factor and give an example : non living thing in ecosystem – water, air,
soil
14. Define biotic factor and give an example: living or once living organism – leaves,
animals, plants, decomposed organisms
15. Define niche: the way/role/job an organism interacts with its ecosystem to meet needs
16. Define habitat: the place an organism lives that provides food, water & shelter
17. Define competition: the struggle for resources when they become limited
18. Define predation: when a predator hunts/kills its prey
19. Explain the change in population size when predator population size INCREASES and
DECREASES
When predator population size increases – prey will decrease
When predator population size decrease – prey will over populate
20. Define producer: an organism that creates its own energy from sunlight; first organism
in food chain
21. Define decomposer: organism that breaks down dead organisms and recycles matter
back into ecosystem
22. Define carnivore: eats other animals ( meat)
23. Define omnivore: eats both plants & animals
24. Define herbivore: eats only plants/producers
25. Define overpopulation and what does it lead to?: overpopulation when a species size
begins to grow larger than the space/resources available – leads to damage to
ecosystem, spread of disease, and competition
26. Define parasitism: parasite feeding on host – one organism benefits; other is harmed
27. Define mutualism: both organisms benefit
28. Define commensalism: one organism benefits; other is neither hurt or benefitting
29. What do the arrows in a food web show? The transfer (flow) of energy
30. What would happen when the predators are removed from a food web? Omnivores,
herbivores, and smaller carnivores would begin to over populate – use up all resources
and eventually cause their own extinction
31. What would happen if the herbivores and omnivores are removed from a food web?
Top predators will go extinct due to lack of food, producers (plants) will overpopulate
32. What would happen in the producers were removed from a food web?
No energy will be able to be transferred from the sun to animals!