Organisms and Environment - Interdependence

Question 1

basic needs

Answer 1

what living things MUST have to survive.

The basic needs for animals are food, water, shelter and air. The basic needs for plants are sunlight, water, soil and air.

Question 2

ecosystem

Answer 2

All the living and non-living things in an area.

In a desert ecosystem, you might find rocks, sand, sunlight, air and water; which are non-living and lizards, birds, cacti, and insects which are living.

Question 3

living organism

Answer 3

anything that eats, grows, reproduces and dies.

All plants and animals are living organisms.

Question 4

non-living things

Answer 4

Anything that is not or never was alive.

Rocks, air, sunlight and water are non-living things.

Question 5

producers

Answer 5

plants

Plants produce, or make, their own food; that is why we call them producers.

Question 6

consumers

Answer 6

anything that has to eat another living thing for food.

Animals are consumers. There are different kinds of consumers that are classified by what they eat.

Question 7

decomposers

Answer 7

an organism that breaks down dead matter returning nutrients to the soil.

Mushrooms, rolly polies, earthworms and bacteria are common decomposers.

Question 8

herbivores

Answer 8

organisms that eat ONLY plants.

Cows, deer, rabbits, some birds and some fish are just a few examples of herbivores.

Question 9

carnivores

Answer 9

organisms that eat ONLY other animals.

Lions, owls, hawks and some fish are just a few examples of carnivores.

Question 10

omnivores

Answer 10

organisms that eat BOTH plants and animals.

Humans, chickens, dogs, and some fish and birds are just a few examples of omnivores.

Question 11

scavengers

Answer 11

organisms that eat dead animals.

Vultures and buzzards are two examples of scavengers.

Question 12

predator

Answer 12

an organism that hunts and kills its prey(food)

Carnivores and omnivores are predators - they must hunt and kill their food.

Question 13

prey

Answer 13

an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

A snake is a predator and its prey is a mouse.

Question 14

food chain

Answer 14

a system that shows the flow of energy through an environment.

Sun, grass, mouse, snake, hawk is an example of a food chain.

Question 15

food web

Answer 15

An interconnected relationship of multiple, overlapping food chains in an ecosystem.

Food webs begin with the sun but have many paths for the energy to flow.

Question 16

pollution

Answer 16

waste or trash that harms the air, land or water.

Pollution is caused by people adding trash or smoke to the environment.

Question 17

grazers

Answer 17

herbivores that eat plants (usually grass) constantly.

Cows graze on grass all day long.

Question 18

photosynthesis

Answer 18

The process where plants use light to make their own food.

Green plants use sunlight, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to produce glucose for energy.

Question 19

carbon dioxide - oxygen cycle

Answer 19

The exchange of gases between plants and animals.

Plants give off oxygen during photosynthesis and animals give off carbon dioxide during respiration (breathing)