GRADE 9 SCIENCE POINTERS
BIODIVERSITY
The term biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its
levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and
evolutionary processes that sustain it. Biodiversity includes not only
species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered, but every
living thing—even organisms we still know little about, such as
microbes, fungi, and invertebrates. Biodiversity is important
everywhere; species and habitats in your area as well as those in
distant lands all play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Why is Biodiversity Important?
We need biodiversity to satisfy basic needs like food, drinking water,
fuel, shelter, and medicine. Much of the world's population still uses
plants and animals as a primary source of medicine, and in the
United States alone, about 57% of the 150 most prescribed drugs
have their origins in biodiversity. Ecosystems provide services such
as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification,
nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. Many flowering
plants depend on animals for pollination, and 30% of human crops
depend on the free services of pollinators.
EXTINCTION
Extinction of a particular animal or plant species occurs when there
are no more individuals of that species alive anywhere in the world -
the species has died out. This is a natural part of evolution.
Endangered animals and plants are at risk of extinction - there are
so few of them that they might soon be wiped out altogether.
Although some plants and animals have always evolved more
successfully than others, human activity is changing the world in
such a way that many more animals and plants are endangered than
would otherwise be.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is a process in which green plants use energy from
the sun to transform water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into
oxygen and organic compounds. It is one example of how people
and plants are dependent on each other in sustaining life.
Photosynthesis happens when water is absorbed by the roots of
green plants and is carried to the leaves by the xylem, and carbon
dioxide is obtained from air that enters the leaves through the
stomata and diffuses to the cells containing chlorophyll. The green
pigment chlorophyll is uniquely capable of converting the active
energy of light into a latent form that can be stored (in food) and
used when needed.
Photosynthesis provides us with most of the oxygen we need in
order to breathe. We, in turn, exhale the carbon dioxide needed by
plants. Plants are also crucial to human life because we rely on them
as a source of food for ourselves and for the animals that we eat.
GRADE 9 SCIENCE POINTERS
BIODIVERSITY
The term biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its
levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and
evolutionary processes that sustain it. Biodiversity includes not only
species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered, but every
living thing—even organisms we still know little about, such as
microbes, fungi, and invertebrates. Biodiversity is important
everywhere; species and habitats in your area as well as those in
distant lands all play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Why is Biodiversity Important?
We need biodiversity to satisfy basic needs like food, drinking water,
fuel, shelter, and medicine. Much of the world's population still uses
plants and animals as a primary source of medicine, and in the
United States alone, about 57% of the 150 most prescribed drugs
have their origins in biodiversity. Ecosystems provide services such
as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification,
nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. Many flowering
plants depend on animals for pollination, and 30% of human crops
depend on the free services of pollinators.
EXTINCTION
Extinction of a particular animal or plant species occurs when there
are no more individuals of that species alive anywhere in the world -
the species has died out. This is a natural part of evolution.
Endangered animals and plants are at risk of extinction - there are
so few of them that they might soon be wiped out altogether.
Although some plants and animals have always evolved more
successfully than others, human activity is changing the world in
such a way that many more animals and plants are endangered than
would otherwise be.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is a process in which green plants use energy from
the sun to transform water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into
oxygen and organic compounds. It is one example of how people
and plants are dependent on each other in sustaining life.
Photosynthesis happens when water is absorbed by the roots of
green plants and is carried to the leaves by the xylem, and carbon
dioxide is obtained from air that enters the leaves through the
stomata and diffuses to the cells containing chlorophyll. The green
pigment chlorophyll is uniquely capable of converting the active
energy of light into a latent form that can be stored (in food) and
used when needed.
Photosynthesis provides us with most of the oxygen we need in
order to breathe. We, in turn, exhale the carbon dioxide needed by
plants. Plants are also crucial to human life because we rely on them
as a source of food for ourselves and for the animals that we eat.
PLANT RESPIRATION
Plant respiration occurs in the mitochondria of each plant cell. First,
glucose is oxidized. The chemical potential energy of its bond turns
into the chemical potential bonds of an ATP molecule. The ATP
molecule is then transported throughout the cell. The molecule's
stored energy is utilized to complete tasks within the cell.
Respiration and photosynthesis, the process by which plants make
their own food, are chemically linked. Through photosynthesis,
plants use carbon dioxide and create oxygen. This means that
respiration can be thought of as photosynthesis in reverse.
One major difference between the two is that plants respire
constantly, but only photosynthesize when they are in the light. In
dark conditions, a plant would respire, but not photosynthesize. The
result would be that only oxygen would be taken in and carbon
dioxide given out. All living cells, including animal cells, respire.
However, plant respiration should not be confused with breathing.
CHEMICAL BONDS
The world around us is made up of tiny units of matter called atoms.
How these atoms stick together to form substances is called
chemical bonding.
Ionic Bonding Ionic bonding occurs when different elements trade
electrons such that both elements now have a full outer shell.
Example: Here is an example showing lithium (which has 3 electrons
and 1 in the outer shell) and fluorine (which has 9 electrons and 7 in
the outer shell) trading an electron to form LiF or lithium fluoride.
This is called an ionic bond.
Covalent Bonding In covalent bonding electrons are shared between
atoms rather than traded in order for the atoms of both elements to
gain full outer shells. Electrons are always shared in pairs.
Example: An example of covalent bonding is the molecule of carbon
dioxide. In this example carbon has 4 of 8 electrons in its outer shell
and oxygen has 6 of eight electrons. By combining two oxygen
atoms with one carbon atom, the atoms can share electrons such
that each atom has a full outer shell.
PLANT RESPIRATION
Plant respiration occurs in the mitochondria of each plant cell. First,
glucose is oxidized. The chemical potential energy of its bond turns
into the chemical potential bonds of an ATP molecule. The ATP
molecule is then transported throughout the cell. The molecule's
stored energy is utilized to complete tasks within the cell.
Respiration and photosynthesis, the process by which plants make
their own food, are chemically linked. Through photosynthesis,
plants use carbon dioxide and create oxygen. This means that
respiration can be thought of as photosynthesis in reverse.
One major difference between the two is that plants respire
constantly, but only photosynthesize when they are in the light. In
dark conditions, a plant would respire, but not photosynthesize. The
result would be that only oxygen would be taken in and carbon
dioxide given out. All living cells, including animal cells, respire.
However, plant respiration should not be confused with breathing.
CHEMICAL BONDS
The world around us is made up of tiny units of matter called atoms.
How these atoms stick together to form substances is called
chemical bonding.
Ionic Bonding Ionic bonding occurs when different elements trade
electrons such that both elements now have a full outer shell.
Example: Here is an example showing lithium (which has 3 electrons
and 1 in the outer shell) and fluorine (which has 9 electrons and 7 in
the outer shell) trading an electron to form LiF or lithium fluoride.
This is called an ionic bond.
Covalent Bonding In covalent bonding electrons are shared between
atoms rather than traded in order for the atoms of both elements to
gain full outer shells. Electrons are always shared in pairs.
Example: An example of covalent bonding is the molecule of carbon
dioxide. In this example carbon has 4 of 8 electrons in its outer shell
and oxygen has 6 of eight electrons. By combining two oxygen
atoms with one carbon atom, the atoms can share electrons such
that each atom has a full outer shell.