A
Read the following paragraph from the section "Understanding Habitats and Niches."
1. The areas that animals or plants live in in an ecosystem are broken up into habitats and
niches, which can be very specific. A niche describes the special role an organism plays
in its ecosystem. Animals can share the same habitat, but have different niches. For
example, a deer and a squirrel may live in the same forest, but where a squirrel eats
acorns, the deer munches on tree leaves as they occupy different niches.
What is the main reason why the author includes this paragraph in the article?
2. Read the two sentences from the section "Every Species Makes A Difference."
In fact, some species are so important that the balance of an entire ecosystem depends on
them.
Some call elephants ecosystem engineers for their ability to maintain the health of the savanna.
How do these sentences develop the main idea of the article?
3. Read the selection from the section "Understanding Habitats and Niches."
Plants use the sun's energy and carbon dioxide gas to make their food in a process known as
photosynthesis. But many organisms can't use sunlight for energy directly as plants do. Instead,
they eat plants and other living things for energy.
Which statement MOST accurately compares Image 3 and the selection?
4. How does Image 2 in the introduction [paragraphs 1-3] support the reader's understanding of
ecosystems?
5. How does the need for populations to adapt to changes in their environments affect the
population of a species as a whole? Consider the investigation activity. Will the species that
doesn’t get enough food eventually become extinct, or will the remaining population learn to
adapt to a new food source or relocate to a new ecosystem?