Life Science (Grades 9–12) Subtest 2

Subarea III. Interdependence and Behavior of Organisms

0017

Understand relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

demonstrating knowledge of the concepts of niche and habitat and of the basic requirements (e.g., nutrients, water, space) of organisms in their environment
demonstrating knowledge of the interrelationships and interdependence of organisms in a community (e.g., competition, mutualism, parasitism)
demonstrating knowledge of methods for investigating and describing the relationships within and between species in an ecosystem and between organisms and their environment

0018

Understand population dynamics and species diversity.

identifying factors that affect the growth rate and size of a population (e.g., carrying capacity, birthrate, migration)
applying knowledge of population dynamics and inter- and intraspecific relationships to explain or predict changes in population sizes of organisms for given changes in an ecosystem
demonstrating knowledge of biotic and abiotic factors that influence the diversity of species in an ecosystem and of processes that lead to changes in species composition and diversity over time (e.g., succession)
analyzing differences in population size and species diversity between various habitats, ecosystems, or biomes

0019

Understand the cycling of matter and the flow of energy.

demonstrating knowledge of the cycling of a given substance (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) through the living and nonliving components of the biosphere
analyzing the flow of energy both within a living system and between the system and the biosphere
identifying the roles of various organisms (e.g., producers, decomposers) in the cycling of nutrients and flow of energy

0020

Understand the behavior of organisms.

demonstrating knowledge of behaviors by which organisms respond to environmental changes or interact with organisms of their own and other species
explaining or predicting the behavioral responses of an animal to a given set of interactions or environmental changes
analyzing behavioral responses of a given organism in terms of natural selection
demonstrating knowledge of methods for observing, measuring, and describing the physical behavior of animals