Biology Quiz: Ecosystems and Organisms

Argument

• An argument uses evidence to support a particular idea or claim.
• Evidence is used to show why one idea is better than others.

Claim

• A claim is a proposed answer to a question.
• A claim can be supported or refuted using evidence from investigations.

Data

• Data can be observations or measurements made during an investigation.
• It is used to support or refute a claim.

Decomposer

• An organism that breaks down dead organisms and waste.
• Decomposers are important for recycling nutrients in an ecosystem.

Ecologist

• A scientist who studies ecosystems.
• They study how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Ecosystem

• A community of organisms and their surrounding environment.
• Ecosystems are made up of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) factors.

Energy

• Energy is the ability to make things move or change.
• Energy flows through ecosystems from the Sun to organisms.

Environment

• All the living and nonliving things in a particular area.
• A healthy environment provides resources for organisms.

Evidence

• Information that supports an argument or claim.
• Can take the form of observations, data, or scientific experiments.

Food Web

• A diagram showing the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.
• Shows how energy flows through different trophic levels.

Matter

• The stuff that things are made of.
• Matter is recycled within ecosystems through various processes like decomposition.

Model

• A representation of real-world phenomena that helps scientists answer questions.
• Models are used to test hypotheses and make predictions.

Molecule

• A group of atoms bonded together in a specific way.
• Molecules are essential building blocks of organisms and play a vital role in chemical reactions.

Nutrient

• A substance that plants and animals take in for growth and development.
• Nutrients are necessary for organisms to survive and thrive.

Observe

• To use one or more of the five senses to gather information.
• Observation is an important part of scientific inquiry.

Organism

• A living thing, like a plant, animal, or bacteria.
• Organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Restoration

• The process of fixing or repairing something to return it to its original condition.
• Restoration is used to improve ecosystems that have been damaged by human activities.

Soil

• A mixture of rocks, water, air, organic matter, and microorganisms.
• Soil is essential for plant growth and supports a diverse community of organisms.

Argument

• A statement that is supported by evidence from a scientific investigation.
• An argument is made to support a claim, or proposed answer to a question.

Claim

• A statement that answers a question.
• A claim must be supported by evidence from a scientific investigation.

Data

• The observations or measurements recorded during a scientific investigation.
• Data should be accurate and reliable to support a claim.

Decomposer

• An organism that breaks down dead organisms or droppings.
• This process is a crucial part of the natural ecosystem.

Ecologist

• A scientist who studies ecosystems.
• An ecologist studies how organisms interact within their environment.