Name: ______Due Date: ______
Grade 7 Science
Assignment 2: What is an Ecosystem?
Go to Ecosystems website: http://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/what-is-an-ecosystem.html
(Remember you can go to Lesson 2 on the science page of our class blog to click on this link directly!)
Read the information for each of the first 5 headings found on the left part of the page (from “What is an Ecosystem?” to “Food Chains”). Answer the following questions (be sure your notes are neat as you will use them for reference and studying later!):
1. What is the definition of ecology?
2. Name 6 threats to ecosystems (hint: click on “More Threats to Ecosystems” near bottom of page to go to new website, then return to your first website when done):
3. Name an example for each: (click on “Scales of an Ecosystem)
a. micro ecosystem: ______
b. messo ecosystem: ______
c. biome: ______
4. In the picture of the rotting log (under “Scales of Ecosystems”), what is the abiotic element that plays a role in that ecosystem? (Hint: click on orange label by log to see how members relate to eachother)
______
5. Complete a simple diagram to illustrate the levels of organization of ecosystems (click on “Levels”):
6. There are 5 major biomes on Earth. Read about each of the biomes and list the sub-biomes for each:
a. Desert Biome:
i. ______
ii. ______
iii. ______
iv. ______
b. Aquatic Biome:
i. ______
ii. ______
c. Forest Biome:
i. ______
ii. ______
iii. ______
d. Grassland Biome:
i. ______
ii. ______
e. Tundra Biome:
i. ______
ii. ______
7. Which biome do you find most interesting and why? You want to start thinking which ecosystem you would like to investigate for your personal inquiry.
8. Play the Food Chain game. What do all food chains start with?