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__________________________________________ Remote Learning Packet
KIPP/2025/____________________________ Assignment #4
Review of Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Directions: Study the key concepts and vocabulary below to prepare yourself for our fourth and final
unit.
Chapter 1
Vocabulary:
● Energy Storage Molecule (ESM) - A molecule organisms can use to release the energy they
need to survive.
● Abiotic - matter that makes up the nonliving (never living) parts of an ecosystem, such as
air, water, and rocks
● Biotic - matter that makes up the living and dead organisms in an ecosystem
● Producer - an organism that can make its own energy storage molecules (such as glucose)
● Consumer - an organism that needs to eat in order to get energy storage molecules (such as
starch and fat)
● Decomposer - an organism that gets energy storage molecules (such as glucose) by breaking
down dead matter
● Ecosystem - all the living and nonliving things interacting in a particular area
● Photosynthesis - the process by which plants and other producers use energy from sunlight
to change carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose (an energy storage molecule)
● System - a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole
Key Concepts:
● Carbon is a part of carbon dioxide, which is abiotic matter. Carbon is also a part of energy
storage molecules, which are biotic matter.
● During the process of photosynthesis, producers make energy storage molecules, using
carbon dioxide and energy from sunlight. This moves carbon from abiotic to biotic matter.
● If one part of a system changes, this affects the rest of the system.
● When there is more carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, more carbon is
available to producers for making energy storage molecules.
● When there is less carbon(in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, less carbon is
available for producers making energy storage molecules.
● When there is more sunlight, producers can make more energy storage molecules from the
carbon in carbon dioxide.
● When there is less sunlight, producers cannot make as many energy storage molecules from
the carbon in carbon dioxide.
Chapter 2
