Energy in Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
A desert ecosystem have very little rainfall each year.
Corrected: A desert ecosystem has very little rainfall each year.
Singular subjects in Grade 5 science use the singular verb 'has' to agree correctly.
2. Fix the sentence:
Ocean food webs is full of fish, whales, and tiny plankton.
Corrected: Ocean food webs are full of fish, whales, and tiny plankton.
Plural subjects in Grade 5 writing pair with the plural verb 'are', not 'is'.
3. Fix the sentence:
Forest animals eats nuts, leaves, and berries from many trees.
Corrected: Forest animals eat nuts, leaves, and berries from many trees.
In Grade 5 grammar, plural subjects drop the -s on the verb, so 'eat' is correct.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A pond ecosystem is small, full of fresh water, and home to frogs and lily pads.
Ponds are freshwater ecosystems that support amphibians, insects, and water plants in Grade 5 science.
2. A desert ecosystem is dry, with cactus plants and animals like lizards.
Desert ecosystems get very little rain, so Grade 5 students learn about water-saving plants and animals.
3. A forest ecosystem has tall trees, squirrels, deer, and many shady plants.
Forests provide layered habitats from canopy to forest floor for many Grade 5 food-web species.
4. The ocean ecosystem is the largest, full of salty water, fish, and whales.
Ocean ecosystems hold huge food webs from plankton to top predators in Grade 5 science.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why do pond and ocean ecosystems have different food webs in Grade 5 science?
Sample answer: Ponds have fresh water and small species like frogs and minnows, while oceans have salt water and large animals like sharks and whales, so their food webs include very different plants and animals.
Water type, size, and depth shape which producers and consumers can survive in each ecosystem.
2. How does a desert food web differ from a forest food web?
Sample answer: Desert food webs have few producers like cactus and tough grasses, with consumers like lizards and snakes, while forests have many trees, deer, and birds because there is more rain and shade.
More rainfall in forests supports more producers, leading to longer and richer food webs than in deserts.