MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Which of the following is an abiotic factor?

a. cat

b. dog

c. person

d. weather

Correct Answer: d

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

What is the purpose of including a control in a scientific investigation? To provide:

a. a basis for comparison

b. a correction for experimental errors

c. a preliminary trial of the methods

d. an opportunity for repetition of the experiment.

Correct Answer: a

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

In a lake organisms die and decompose. Decomposition uses large amounts of oxygen that was dissolved in the lake’s water. The reduced level of oxygen in the lake would determine which of the following?

a. the number of birds living around the lake

b. the amount of run-off reaching the lake

c. the amount of sunlight reaching the lake

d. the kinds of fish living in the lake

Correct Answer: d

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Number of Individuals

0 10 20 30 40

Temperature

The graph shows the population counts of three different kinds of organisms grown at various temperatures.

Mark each statement as a fact (A) or inference (B).

_____ 1. Population A is most variably affected by temperature.

_____ 2. Population B was not affected by temperature.

_____ 3. Population C would do well at 50°C.

_____ 4. Population A died out just above 40°C.

_____ 5. If left at 10°C for long enough, population C would grow to a size comparable to what

it did at 30°C.

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. a

3. b

4. a

5. b

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

You want to design an experiment that tests the influence of abiotic factors on plant growth. Which abiotic factor would you test?

a. acidity of the soil

b. insects infecting the plant

c. species of plants grown

d. plant height

Correct Answer: a

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Andrew did a study on the relationship between the age of trees and the number of sparrow nest sites. He hypothesized that he would find more nests in older trees than he would in younger trees. He found 355 sparrow nesting sites in trees over 50 years old and no nests in trees less than 50 years old. Andrew’s conclusion was “Sparrows never nest in trees under 50 years old.” Which of the following statements best describes Andrew’s conclusion?

a. The statement is invalid because Andrew did not examine every sparrow nesting site worldwide.

b. The statement is invalid because it is difficult to determine the exact age of a tree without killing it.

c. The statement is valid because Andrew did not find any nests in trees less than 50 years old.

d. The statement is valid because Andrew had a large sample size.

e. The statement is valid because Andrew’s hypothesis matched his conclusion.

Correct Answer: a

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

A rancher moved his herd of cattle to a mountain range pasture. Which example below indicated he exceeded the carrying capacity of that range?

a. The herd grew and prospered.

b. The range became overgrazed and barren.

c. The range became green and fertile.

d. Too many people rode the cattle and caused back problems.

e. The cows had more than one calf.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Joseph wanted to analyze the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in a forest meadow. Which of the following would be suitable subjects for study?

a. The relationship between length of day and average daytime temperature.

b. The relationship between soil type and vegetation types.

c. The relationship between rabbit feeding habits and number of clover plants.

d. The relationship between number of aspen trees and sparrow nests.

e. The relationship between rainfall and stream volume.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Which of the following models best describes the energy flow in an ocean ecosystem?

a.

energy released plankton as heat

herbivores

carnivores

b.

energy released

organic matter comes as heat

into oceans by rivers

herbivores

carnivores

c.

plankton

carnivores

herbivores

d.

seaweed

decomposers

herbivores

carnivores

Correct Answer: a

I	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

In an investigation on potato bug habitat sites, Graciella’s hypothesis was “There will be more potato bugs found in moist, dark areas than will be found in dry, dark areas.” When Graciella collected data she found 172 potato bugs under rocks in dry, dark areas and 42 potato bugs under rocks in moist, dark areas.

1. What variable was Graciella testing?

a. The relative moisture level of potato bug habitat.

b. the relative light level of potato bug habitat.

c. Potato bug preference for hiding under rocks versus other habitat options.

d. The relationship between light levels and moisture content in potato bug habitats.

e. Where potato bugs live.

2. Graciella’s conclusion, based on her data, was that more potato bugs are found in dry, dark areas than are found in moist, dark areas. Which of the following statements about her conclusion is right?

a. The conclusion is invalid because it disagrees with the hypothesis.

b. The conclusion is invalid because potato bugs prefer moist environments.

c. The conclusion is valid because there were significantly more potato bugs found in dry, dark areas than moist, dark areas.

d. The conclusion is valid because invertebrates prefer dry, dark areas.

e. The experiment is a failure because the hypothesis was wrong.

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. c

I	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Use the diagram below to answer the following questions.

rabbits foxes

grasses mice snakes bacteria

pea plants grasshoppers gulls

1. What would happen if the mice were taken out of this food web?

a. The whole food web would collapse.

b. There would be less grass for the rabbits.

c. The gull population would get smaller.

d. The snake population would get smaller.

e. The fox population would increase.

2. What would happen if the bacteria were taken out of the food web?

a. Foxes would over populate and kill off the rabbits.

b. Dead plants and animals would not decompose.

c. The number of gulls would decrease.

d. Snakes and foxes would eat all of the mice.

e. Snakes would get sick and die.

Correct Answers:

1. d

2. b

I	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Use this chart to answer the following questions:

1. The rabbits in this example occupy which level of the food pyramid?

a. producers

b. primary consumers

c. secondary consumers

d. tertiary consumers

2. What causes the decrease in organisms as you move up the pyramid?

a. Organisms in the upper levels eat more than organisms in the lower levels.

b. Organisms in the upper levels eat less than organisms in the lower levels.

c. Each level loses energy due to growth, activity and heat loss, so less energy is available for each level up the pyramid.

d. The lower levels depend on a steady source of sunlight, while the upper levels have no need for sunlight.

Correct Answers:

1. b

2. c

I	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

Certain parts of the paragraph are underlined. Each underlined portion is one of the examination questions. They key below is to be used for answering questions in the paragraph. Evaluate each underlined portion according to the following key:

KEY: a. Problem (stated or implied)

b. Hypothesis (possible solution to the problem)

c. Statement of initial observations

d. Observation based on the experiment

During some years when the annual rainfall was only 1.5 inches, (1) the desert floor in Death Valley bloomed with a carpet of color. (2) One year when 4.2 inches of rain fell, there were no flowers. For the flowers in Death Valley to bloom in the spring, the rain must come at a certain tie. (3) Flowering occurs only if there is well over one inch of precipitation during November or December. Rain in other months seems ineffective. In dry years the seeds lie dormant, and (4) they do not germinate even after a rain unless the amount of rainfall is at least half an inch. Since the upper inch of soil, where all the viable seeds lie, is as wet after a rain of a tenth of an inch as after one or two inches of rain, (5) the discrimination of the seeds seems difficult to explain. (6) How can a see measure the rainfall? In the laboratory, if seed-containing desert soil is spread on pure sand and wet with a sprinkler, (7) the seeds will not germinate until the equivalent of one inch of rain has fallen on them. (8) What factor(s) assure the germination of these desert plants?

Correct Answers:

1. c

2. c

3. c

4. c

5. a

6. a

7. d

8. a

I	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
Indicator:	f. Plan and conduct an experiment to investigate how abiotic factors influence organisms and how organisms influence the physical environment.
ILO:

A farmer wants to know how to get more ears of corn from his land. His field is fenced and he has planted his plants as close together as possible. You are going to conduct an experiment to help him.

You decide to plant 10m corn seeds in 10 different pots. You water 5 plants with 100 ml of water a day and 5 plants with 1000 ml of water a day.

1. Which of the following is a research question about the farmer’s problem?

a. How do you keep the deer from eating the corn?

b. How tall can a corn stalk grow?

c. How can you get more ears per corn plant?

d. How can you get more plants on his land?

2. Which of the following hypothesis are you testing with your experiment?

a. If you fertilize the plant more than you will get more corn.

b. If you water the plant more then you will get more corn.

c. If you spread out the plants more you will get more corn.

d. If you give the plant more light you will get more corn.

Correct Answers:

1. c

2. b

P	Earth Systems	Standard: 02
Objective: 02. Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.
ILO:

ABC PROFILE

Teacher Information Page:

Introduction:

This activity takes the students outdoors where they will look at a natural ecosystem, identify its abiotic (A), biotic (B), and cultural (C) components and analyze the interactions between the three. It requires students to make detailed observations about their environment, collect data, analyze their data, and draw warranted conclusions about what they have observed. It is designed to promote systems thinking.

Materials:

An undeveloped outdoor area roughly the size of a football field.

Time required:

One to two class periods, depending on whether homework is assigned.

Scoring Guide: (see next 2 pages for identification of each of these guide items)

1. no score

2. 2 points given for a map that shows the location of the profile in Utah

3. 1 point given for each abiotic feature listed, up to 10

4. 1 point given for each biotic feature listed, up to 15

5. 1 point given for each evidence of man’s influence, up to 3

A. 5 points given for each example, up to 25 points

B. 5 points given for each example, up to 15 points

C. 5 points for the example

D. 5 points for the example

E. 10 points possible, 2 points for each specific example of how rainfall influences biotic and abiotic features.

F. 10 points possible

energy comes from sun (2 points)

specific plant captures energy (3 points)

specific animal eats plant (3 points)

energy ends up stored as chemical energy or goes to space in form of heat (2 points)

TOTAL 100 points

Student Information Page:

Name:_________________________________

ABC PROFILE

When you tell someone where you live, you often tell him or her about the area in which your home is located before you tell the specific address. You may say “near the mountains,” “on the mesa,” “in the desert,” “by the river bottom.” By saying this you are furnishing important clues about the unique characteristics of your local environment: the climate, soil, vegetation, animal life, and even human use of the part of Utah you call home. All of these factors form what are sometimes called the “ABC’s of the environment.”

In the ABC’s of the environment, “A” refers to the abiotic (physical, non-living) features of the area. “B” identifies the biotic (plant and animal) component of the environment. “C” is the cultural (human) influences. Some ecologists think of the ABC’s as forming a triangle with interrelating sides. In a civilization as complex as ours, no single side can exist uninfluenced by others.

Your task is to create an ABC PROFILE and to ANALYZE the data you collect in your profile.

ABC PROFILE

Your ABC Profile will identify the ABC’s of a natural environment near you. To make your ABC profile, follow the instructions below.

1. Select an area that is undeveloped (i.e.: no buildings, no pavement, no bulldozing, no spraying of pesticides, no farming, no grazing). Your area must be at least the size of a football field.

2. Make a map of Utah and show, approximately, where your area is located in Utah. Include any abiotic features in the general area such as mountains, rivers, rock formations, etc… (2 points)

3. Identify at least 10 “A”, abiotic, features of your area, including: (Estimates are acceptable.) (10 points)

slope (What is the angle of the land? Is it steep, hilly, flat?)

landforms (mesa, mountain, valley, bench, etc)

altitude

soil (sandy, clay, rocky, loam, etc)

annual precipitation

temperature range

4. identify at least 15 “B”, biotic, features of the area, including: (You may use common names.) (15 points)

plants (trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, etc)

mammals (rats, mice, fox, coyote, rabbit, etc)

insects (ants, bees, praying mantis, etc)

birds (robins, magpies, sparrow, hawk, etc)

amphibians, reptiles, and/or fish

5. Identify at least 3 “C”, cultural, components. Look for evidence of human influence, including: (3 points)

recycling, conservation efforts