Chapter 7 –
Ecosystems
Study Guide
6th Grade Science
Mr. Houck
Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis
a
close, long term relationship between
organisms that benefits at least one of
them
 Parasite
- organism that benefits
Host - organism that is harmed
Symbiosis – 3 Types
 Parasitism
- one benefits and one is
harmed
 Mutualism - both benefit
 Commensalism - one benefits the other
does not and is not harmed
Competition
 the
struggle among organisms to survive
in a habitat with limited resources
Decomposers
 get
energy by breaking down the remains
of dead organisms
Adaptations
 helps
1.
2.
3.
an organism survive and reproduce
in different environments
Why do they occur? Survival
What would happen if a species couldn't
adapt? May become extinct
What adaptations would work best for
prey? Blending in (camouflage)
Food Chain vs. Food Web
 Relationship
a food web
 Difference
– many food chains make up
– Chain is one possible path of
how an organism gets energy. Web is
multiple chains and paths of all organisms
in an ecosystem.
Energy Pyramid
 shows
how energy moves in an
ecosystem
 Why
does the energy decrease as you
move up? Energy is used by organisms at
each level so it decreases along the way.
Nitrogen Cycle
 Where
do plants get Nitrogen? From the
ground and roots
 Where
do animals get Nitrogen? from
eating plants
Carbon Cycle
 decomposition,
respiration,
photosynthesis, and burning of fossil fuels
 What's the importance of photosynthesis
and respiration in the cycle?
Photosynthesis processes carbon dioxide
into oxygen for animals
Open-Ended Questions
Name the 3 types of adaptations and
provide examples of each.
1. Structure – webbed feet, backbones,
color, spots, big ears
2. Behaviors – caring for young, building
nests, migrating
3. Processes – Photosynthesis, Hibernation
Open-Ended Questions
What is the benefit of a forest fire for the new
growth? Succession/Pioneer Species
 Heat makes cones release the seeds
 soil will have good nutrients from the ash
 space to grow
 no trees to block out sunlight from
seedlings.
Open-Ended Questions
1.
2.
What is the relationship of the sun,
producers, and consumers?
Sun allows producers to make their own
food.
Consumers eat the plants because they
cannot make their own food from
sunlight.
Open-Ended Questions
Identify 2 human changes to an ecosystem
and provide ways to avoid them.
 Introducing new species
 Air Pollution
 Landfills
 Clearing Land