Activity 1:Biology to Go
1. Student answers will vary.
a) Coral reef–living coral, algae, fish, sea urchins, crabs, sharks
b) The temperature of the water would be a very important abiotic
factor as well as the wind and other weather conditions
a) Rain forest–palms, tree seedlings, vines and other climbing plants,
tall trees, insects, birds, gorillas and monkeys
b) Temperature, rainfall, and soil are important abiotic factors in a rainforest
2. Biodiversity is the sum of all the different types of organisms living on the Earth.
3. Humans destroy natural habitats as their population increases and they need
to occupy more land. Smog from automobiles and industry can destroy trees. Land that is used for agriculture also infringes on natural habitats and can
reduce a biologically diverse ecosystem into a monoculture.
4. (The reading presents three arguments, students may add their own reasons.)
– If plants and animals are genetically similar a disease could destroy
an entire population.
– Simple ecosystems are unstable. Therefore, if one component is removed,
the entire ecosystem could collapse.
– Many plants are yet to be identified.
Some of them may be beneficial to humans.
5. Student answers will vary.
a) Rain forests have a very high biodiversity.
b) The Arctic tundra would have a low biodiversity.
6. Student answers will vary. Students may choose an animal that lives in a cold climate and indicate that thick fur, fat layers, and hibernation are adaptations
to this environment. In a hot climate students might indicate that animals are active at night to avoid the heat of day, and plants have spines instead of leaves
to conserve water. |