Organisms and The Environment Test Review
Scientific Processes:
1. Below is an example of a hypothesis that can be tested. Pretend you are going to design an experiment
to test this hypothesis, and answer the following questions:
Hypothesis: Saltwater freezes faster than freshwater
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What would be the independent variable? (HINT: what are you changing or testing?)
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What would be the dependent variable? (HINT: what are you measuring?)
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What would be constants in the experiment? (HINT: what would you need to keep the same?)
2. Can your experiment answer the following question? Why or why not?
Does salt water taste good?
3. These are the results from your experiment. What can you conclude about the amount of salt in
water and the time it takes for the water to freeze?
4. Using the graph above, what can you infer about the amount of water in fruits compared to breads.
5. Define & list biotic factors and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Biotic Factors –

Abiotic Factors –
6. Look at the circled area of the food web above. What is happening between the mouse and
grasshopper?
7. What would happen if the producers were removed from the food web above?
8. List some biotic and abiotic factors that plants and animals compete for in their ecosystem?
Animals
Abiotic
Plants
Biotic______
Abiotic
Biotic______
9. Heartworms are transmitted from mosquitoes to dogs. The worms take up residence in the dog’s
heart and eventually cause severe medical problems for the dogs and can even cause death.
What is the heartworm considered in this relationship?
What is the dog considered in this relationship?
10. Is this relationship positive or negative? Explain your answer.
11. In the food web above, what is the relationship between small fish and turtles?
12. Which organisms would be most affected if all the algae died in the food web above?
13. What is global warming and how might it affect polar populations in the future?
14. During the 1700’s and 1800’s sailors stopped at the Galapagos Islands and gathered Galapagos
tortoises to use for food on long sea voyages. The Galapagos tortoises lived for a long time and had no
predators on the islands. They also required little food and water in order to survive. Today, Galapagos
tortoises are now endangered. Did humans contribute to this? If so, how?
15. List and describe some reasons why marine animal species may become extinct?
16. We are seeing more new stories about coyote sightings and interactions with humans in North Texas.
Why might this be happening?
17. What is a niche? What do organisms in the same niche compete for?
18. In the food web above, what is the relationship between the shrew and the snake?
19. In the food web above, list all the primary consumers. What do they eat?
20. What would happen to the squirrel in the food web above if all of the shrubs and trees died?
21. What organisms compete for the same food resources?
22. What do plants provide for animals?
23. What is urban development? Give some examples of urban development.
24. How does urban development affect organisms in an ecosystem?
25. What do humans depend on ocean ecosystems for?