Question

africa unit: lesson 35
part 1:
characteristic | water | fire | wolf | grass
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
order | x | x | √ | √
sensitivity or response to stimuli | √ | √ | x | x
reproduction | x | x | √ | √
growth and development | x | √ | √ | x
regulation | x | x | √ | x
homeostasis | x | √ | √ | √
energy processing | x | √ | √ | x
define biotic:
define abiotic:
part 2: cer

• choose 1 (water, fire or wolf)
• in c-e-r format, make and defend a claim about whether or not the item you chose is alive or not.
• is your item living?
• list each characteristic & explain why or why not it is true of your item.

Explanation:

For defining Biotic and Abiotic:

• Biotic factors are living or once - living components of an ecosystem. These include organisms like plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and also dead organic matter as it was once part of a living organism.
• Abiotic factors are non - living components of an ecosystem. They include physical and chemical factors such as water, sunlight, temperature, air, soil, and minerals.

For the CER part (taking Wolf as an example):

• Claim: The wolf is a living organism.
• Evidence: Looking at the characteristics table:
• Order: Wolf has a checkmark, meaning it has a complex organization (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) typical of living things.
• Sensitivity or Response to Stimuli: Initially marked with an X but likely a mistake as wolves do respond to stimuli (e.g., react to prey, changes in environment). Correctly, wolves should have a checkmark as they can sense and respond to their surroundings (like detecting prey, avoiding danger).
• Reproduction: Wolf has a checkmark, as wolves reproduce sexually to produce offspring.
• Growth and Development: Wolf has a checkmark, wolves grow from pups to adults and go through developmental stages.
• Regulation: Wolf has a checkmark, wolves have internal regulatory mechanisms (like maintaining body temperature, blood sugar levels).
• Homeostasis: Wolf has a checkmark, wolves maintain a stable internal environment (e.g., body temperature, pH of body fluids).
• Energy Processing: Wolf has a checkmark, wolves obtain energy by consuming other organisms (like hunting prey) and use that energy for life processes.
• Reasoning: All these characteristics are hallmarks of living organisms. Living things are defined by having organization, the ability to respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow and develop, regulate internal processes, maintain homeostasis, and process energy. The wolf exhibits all of these, so it is a living organism.

Answer:

• Define Biotic: Living or once - living components of an ecosystem (e.g., organisms, dead organic matter).
• Define Abiotic: Non - living components of an ecosystem (e.g., water, sunlight, temperature).
• CER (Wolf example):
• Claim: The wolf is living.
• Evidence: Order (✓), Sensitivity (should be ✓ as wolves respond to stimuli), Reproduction (✓), Growth and Development (✓), Regulation (✓), Homeostasis (✓), Energy Processing (✓).
• Reasoning: Living things have these characteristics; the wolf exhibits them, so it is living.