1. Thursday- Science Question of the Day
There are many factors that influence the number of different kinds of plants in a biome. Why is elevation, or height, a factor that influences what kinds of plants can live in any certain biome on Earth?
A. The elevation determines whether people can see and enjoy the plants.
B. Elevation determines whether the plants get enough sunlight.
C. Elevation does not influence what types of plants can grow in a certain biome .
D. The elevation helps to determine the temperature of the biome.  
Identify the environmental conditions and interdependencies among organisms found in the major biomes.

2. Going Over the Question of the Day
There are many factors that influence the number of different kinds of plants in a biome. Why is elevation, or height, a factor that influences what kinds of plants can live in any certain biome on Earth?
The correct answer:
D. The elevation helps to determine the temperature of the biome.
Why does elevation determine temperature?
The higher up you go in altitude, the colder it gets
That’s why you see snow on the top of mountains!
How will plants differ in different temperatures?
You have cacti in hot dry temperatures!
You have big leaved plants in hot wet temperatures!
You have trees that drops their leaves in places with 4 seasons!
You have evergreen trees in places with colder temperatures!

3. Check it out!

4. 6th Grade Science TCAP: Reviewing Relationship in Ecology
6th Grade Science TCAP: Reviewing Relationship in Ecology! (from Unit 2: Ecology)
Today’s Agenda:
Going over the Question of the Day (5 minutes)
Correct answer
Testing Tips
Reviewing Ecology Terms & Biomes (20 minutes)
Part I: Reviewing Relevant Ecology Terms
Part II: Reviewing Biomes
Ecology Practice Quiz (15 minutes)

5. Part I: Reviewing Relevant Ecology Terms
We’re going to do a quick review of some terms.
Then we’ll practice our terms with some questions
All of these terms should be on your vocab ring!
Quickly write them down and their definitions when you see “Write these definitions down”
Ms. McGuirk tried to make the definitions as short as possible!

6. Write these definitions down!
Abiotic versus Biotic
Abiotic: nonliving
Biotic: living
Write these definitions down!

7. Analyzing Abiotic/Biotic Relationships
Which abiotic factor is the basis for this ecosystem?
Water!

8. Producers versus Consumer versus Decomposer
Producer: an organism that uses the sun light to make its own food (a.k.a. autotroph).
Consumer: an organism that depends on other organisms for food (a.k.a. heterotroph).
Decomposer: an organism that breaks down other organisms to get energy and returns nutrients to the soil.
Write these definitions down!

9. Analyzing Producer/Consumer/Decomposer Relationships
When looking for a producer, look for the organisms with no arrows pointing to it.
Which is a producer in the Arctic Food Web above?
Phytoplankton!

10. Primary versus Secondary versus Tertiary Consumer
Type of Consumer
# in Food Web
Common Synonym
What do they eat?
Primary
First
Herbivore
Producers
Secondary
Second
Omnivore
Primary Consumers/Producers
Tertiary
Third
Carnivore
Secondary/Primary Consumers
Write these definitions down!

11. Analyzing Primary/Secondary/Consumer Relationships
Which organism in this food web can be a primary and secondary consumer?
Mouse!

12. Food Chain versus Food Web versus Energy Pyramid
Food Chain: shows only one line of feeding relationships.
Food Web: shows many feeding relationships within an ecosystem.
Energy Pyramid: shows how energy decreases as you travel from producer  tertiary consumer. \
Write these definitions down!

13. Analyzing Feeding Relationship Diagrams
How would you describe the way that energy is transferred in this pyramid?
The amount of energy decreases up from the plankton level.

14. Part II: Reviewing Biomes
The last half of our review will be a team discussion.
Your coach will leave the picture slide on the board for 15 seconds for you to look at.
Then, you will raise your hand to participate in a discussion about the biomes we learned about!

15. Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome

16. Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome
What is so unique about this biome?
This biome has trees that drop their leaves. These trees are called deciduous. Memphis is located in this biome!
What kinds of plants will you find?
You will find deciduous trees and plants like grass and ferns.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Squirrels, foxes, deer and birds.

17. Coniferous Forest Biome (Taiga)

18. Coniferous Forest Biome (Taiga)
What is so unique about this biome?
This biome has trees whose leaves remain evergreen – remember, Coniferous sounds like Christmas, and these are the kinds of trees we see at that time of the year!
What kinds of plants will you find?
Evergreen trees (conifers), which have pointy needles for leaves and pinecones.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Similar to animals in a deciduous forest biome, but elk/moose instead of deer.

19. Tropical Rainforest Biome

20. Tropical Rainforest Biome
What is so unique about this biome?
Its climate! It is very warm and very wet all year long!
What kinds of plants will you find?
Big-leaved trees and plants.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Brightly colored birds, frogs, snakes, tigers, monkeys, and millions of insects!

21. Grassland Biome
Prairie (North America)
Savanna (Africa)

22. Grassland Biome What is so unique about this biome?
This biome has FEW trees – that’s why it is called a GRASSland. Because of this, there are many large herbivores that live here (i.e. Buffalo and Zebra)
What kinds of plants will you find?
GRASS (duh!) – and very few trees.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Buffalo, Horses, Zebra, Giraffe, Rhino, Lions, Elephants

23. Desert Biome

24. Desert Biome What is so unique about this biome?
Its climate – it is very hot and dry. Because of this, it lacks many plants and trees.
What kinds of plants will you find?
Cactus and other succulent plants that can store water.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Many cold-blooded animals that hide during the day and come out at night. Lizards, scorpions, snakes, and small rodents.

25. Tundra Biome

26. Tundra Biome What is so unique about this biome?
It is so cold in this biome that a layer of soil is permanently frozen – this is called permafrost.
What kinds of plants will you find?
Small shrubs and lichens (a moss-like producer) – it is too cold and the soil is frozen so other plants and trees cannot put their roots far enough in the ground to grow.
What kinds of animals will you find?
Animals with a lot of white fur – polar bears, musk oxen, foxes, wolves, and rabbits.

27. Ecology Practice Quiz (15 minutes)
Log into Quia and click on March Madness Week 2 Ecology Practice Quiz
The secret word is “biome”
You will have the last portion of class to answer 10 practice questions on this topic.
Once you submit your answers, make sure you review the questions you got wrong!
If you finish early with the quiz, you can view the link on my Quia for “March Madness: Week 2”
Play “Producers Consumers Decomposers”