CONCEPT SUMMARY — NO QUESTIONS

Science Summary
 1 Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration

Plants capture light energy to make food (photosynthesis), and all living things
break down that food to release usable energy (cellular respiration). These two
processes are opposites that keep each other going.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
A series of chemical reactions that converts light energy + CO₂ + H₂O into glucose +
oxygen. Takes place in chloroplasts inside plant cells.

6CO₂ + 6H₂O ──(light / chlorophyll)──► C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Step 1 – Capture Light: Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight → splits water molecules →

releases O₂.

Step 2 – Make Sugar: Stored energy converts CO₂ into glucose (can happen without
direct light).

LEAF STRUCTURE

Stomata

Tiny openings on leaf underside — allow CO₂ in, O₂ and water vapor out.

Cuticle
Waxy coating that reduces water loss from the leaf surface.

Chloroplast
Organelle where photosynthesis occurs; contains green pigment chlorophyll.

Palisade Cells

Packed near leaf top; many chloroplasts; maximise light absorption.

Spongy Cells
Air spaces between cells allow gases to flow for photosynthesis.

Vascular Tissue

Transports water and nutrients through the leaf.

CELLULAR RESPIRATION
A series of reactions that converts glucose + oxygen into CO₂ + water + ATP energy.
Occurs in ALL living things. ATP is the usable energy currency of cells.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ ──────────────────► 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP

Step 1 – Glycolysis (cytoplasm): Glucose → smaller molecules + small amount of ATP.

Step 2 – Mitochondria: Smaller molecules + O₂ → large amounts of ATP + CO₂ + water.

COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

PHOTOSYNTHESIS CELLULAR RESPIRATION

Who Plants, algae, some bacteria ALL living organisms

 Inputs CO₂ + H₂O + Light energy Glucose + O₂

Outputs Glucose + O₂ CO₂ + H₂O + ATP

Location Chloroplasts Cytoplasm + Mitochondria

Energy Stores energy in glucose Releases energy as ATP

The outputs of photosynthesis (glucose + O₂) are exactly the inputs of cellular
respiration — and vice versa. Together they cycle oxygen and carbon through ecosystems.

2 Flow of Energy

☀ Energy flows in one direction only: Sun → Producers → Consumers. It is not

recycled — it is lost as heat at each step. Only about 10% passes from one level to the
next.

TYPES OF ORGANISMS

Producers (Autotrophs)
Make own food via photosynthesis. Examples: plants, algae, phytoplankton.

Herbivores

Eat only plants (primary consumers). Examples: cow, rabbit, caterpillar.

Carnivores
Eat only animals. Examples: lion, shark, eagle.

Omnivores
Eat both plants and animals. Examples: bear, humans.

Detritivores / Decomposers
Break down dead matter, recycling nutrients. Examples: bacteria, fungi, mushrooms.

FOOD CHAIN

A linear model showing energy transfer from one organism to the next. Arrows show the
direction energy flows (from food → eater).

Ocean example: Diatoms → Krill → Fish → Leopard Seal → Orca

Land example: Grass → Rabbit → Fox → Eagle

FOOD WEB

A network of overlapping food chains. An organism may belong to more than one chain.
If one species disappears, the entire web is affected.

ENERGY PYRAMID

Shows energy available at each trophic level. Only ~10% of energy transfers upward; 90%
is lost as heat.

Level 3 · 1% energy
 Level 2 · 10% energy

Level 1 · Producers · 100% energy

Energy decreases going up — fewer organisms can be supported at higher levels

ROLE OF DECOMPOSERS

Bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms → release nutrients back into soil → release
CO₂ into atmosphere. Without decomposers, dead matter would accumulate and nutrients
would be locked away permanently.

⚠Key rule: Energy is NEVER recycled. Matter IS recycled. This is the most tested distinction
in this unit.

3 Cycling of Matter

Matter is never created or destroyed (Law of Conservation of Mass). The same

atoms cycle continuously through ecosystems, changing form but never disappearing.

THE WATER CYCLE

Evaporation
Liquid water → water vapor (gas). Driven by heat from the Sun. Also occurs via transpiration (plants)
and exhalation (animals).

Condensation
Water vapor cools → liquid water → forms clouds and droplets.

Precipitation

Water falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Enters soil or bodies of water.

Transpiration
Plants release water vapor through their leaves into the atmosphere.

THE CARBON CYCLE

Photosynthesis: Plants absorb CO₂ → store carbon in glucose (in plant tissues).

Cellular Respiration: All organisms break down glucose → release CO₂ back to
atmosphere.

Decomposition: Decomposers break down dead matter → release CO₂ into soil and air.

Combustion: Burning fuels/wood releases stored carbon as CO₂ into atmosphere.

THE OXYGEN CYCLE

Photosynthesis produces O₂ → released into atmosphere.

Cellular respiration consumes O₂ → organisms breathe it in.

Phytoplankton and algae produce over 50% of Earth's atmospheric oxygen.

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

Atmosphere is ~78% nitrogen (N₂) — but most organisms cannot use it directly.
Nitrogen Fixation: Special bacteria on plant roots convert N₂ → usable nitrogen
compounds in soil. Lightning also converts N₂ when it rains.

Plants absorb nitrogen compounds from soil; animals get nitrogen by eating plants or
other animals.

When organisms die → bacteria decompose them → return nitrogen to soil.

Other bacteria convert nitrogen compounds back to N₂ gas → released to atmosphere.

CYCLE KEY PROCESSES KEY PLAYERS

Water Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Sun, atmosphere, plants, oceans

Transpiration

Carbon Photosynthesis, Respiration, Decomposition, Plants, animals, decomposers

Combustion

Oxygen Photosynthesis (produces), Respiration (uses) Plants, algae, phytoplankton,

animals

Nitrogen Fixation, Decomposition, Denitrification Bacteria, lightning, plants,

animals
4 Interactions Within Ecosystems

Organisms in ecosystems interact in many ways. Symbiosis is a close, long-term

relationship between two species. Not all interactions are symbiotic — predation and
competition are also critical ecosystem relationships.

THREE TYPES OF SYMBIOSIS

SPECIES
TYPE SPECIES A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
B

Mutualism ✅ Benefits ✅ Benefits Clownfish + Sea anemone · Barbel fish + Hippo ·

Bees + Flowers

Commensalism ✅ Benefits ➖ Not Cattle egrets + Cattle · Seeds on animal fur

affected

Parasitism ✅ Parasite ❌ Host Fleas on a dog · Hunting wasp larvae inside a

benefits harmed spider

OTHER ECOSYSTEM RELATIONSHIPS

Predator–Prey

Predator kills and eats prey. Controls population size. Removes weak individuals → keeps prey
population healthy.

Competition

Two+ organisms compete for the same limited resource (food, water, space, light). Example: trees
competing for sunlight.

Cooperation
Same species work together for mutual survival. Example: leafcutter ants, elephants raising young,
wolves hunting in packs.

QUICK ID GUIDE

Both organisms benefit → Mutualism

One benefits, one unaffected → Commensalism

One benefits (parasite), one harmed (host) → Parasitism

One eats the other → Predator-Prey

Both need the same resource → Competition

Same species helps each other → Cooperation

Mutualism in detail: Clownfish live inside sea anemone tentacles. The anemone protects
clownfish from predators; the clownfish provides nutrients from its waste. Both organisms
benefit and depend on each other.
5 Benefits of Biodiversity

Biodiversity = the variety of all living organisms in an area. High biodiversity

makes ecosystems healthier, more productive, and more resilient to disturbances.

HOW SCIENTISTS MEASURE BIODIVERSITY

Surveys

Walk or boat through a habitat, identify and count organisms by sight (especially birds, using
binoculars).

Quadrat Sampling

Place a square frame (1–20 m²) in a habitat. Count all species and individuals inside. Repeated many
times for accuracy.

Transect Sampling

Count organisms along a straight line drawn through a habitat.

Aerial Photography

Photos taken from aircraft to map large-scale biodiversity patterns.

BIODIVERSITY INDEX FORMULA

Biodiversity Index = Number of species ÷ Total number of individuals

Example: 5 species, 50 total individuals → Biodiversity Index = 5 ÷ 50 = 0.1. A higher index

means greater biodiversity.

WHY BIODIVERSITY MATTERS

Ecosystem Health: More species = more processes running (nutrient cycling, carbon
storage, water cycling, plant production). Scientists agree decreasing biodiversity reduces
ecosystem health and function.

Resilience: Diverse ecosystems recover better from fires, droughts, and disease.

Productivity: High-biodiversity plots show greater plant growth and ground coverage
over time.

Ecosystem Services: Clean air, clean water, fertile soil, crop pollination, climate
regulation, medicines — all depend on biodiversity.

Food & Medicine: Many crops and life-saving medicines come from wild species.

Research shows: the more species in an ecosystem, the more ecosystem processes it can
carry out. Biodiversity and ecosystem health are directly linked.
6 Maintaining Biodiversity

⚠ Biodiversity is currently declining worldwide. There are five major threats, and
humans must take action to protect and restore it through conservation strategies.

5 MAJOR THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

1. Habitat Destruction
Land cleared for farming, building, or logging destroys species' homes. The most widespread threat
globally.

2. Invasive Species

Non-native species with no natural predators outcompete native species for resources → native
species decline or go extinct. Example: zebra mussels, cane toads.

3. Pollution

Air, water, and soil pollution harms organisms and destroys habitats. Pollutants can spread far from
their source.

4. Overexploitation

Over-hunting, over-fishing, or over-harvesting species faster than they can reproduce.

5. Climate Change

Rising temperatures shift habitats and species ranges; many cannot adapt fast enough and decline or
go extinct.

CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS
Protected Areas: National parks and wildlife reserves preserve habitats and species.

Conservation Laws: Banning hunting of endangered species; regulating fishing and

trade.

Invasive Species Management: Removing or controlling invasive species to protect

native ones.

Reducing Pollution: Cleaner energy sources, proper waste disposal, recycling.

Sustainable Practices: Farming, fishing, and forestry methods that don't deplete
resources.

Reusing Materials: Reduces demand for new resources (less habitat destruction) and
less waste in ecosystems (less pollution).

Education & Research: Raising public awareness; scientific monitoring of ecosystems.

Invasive species example: Zebra mussels in freshwater lakes consume huge amounts of
plankton, starving native species. Cane toads introduced to Australia poison native
predators that try to eat them. Once established, invasive species are very hard to remove.

7 Earthquakes
 Earthquakes occur when stress built up along faults in Earth's crust is suddenly
released. This sends seismic waves radiating outward, shaking the ground.

KEY VOCABULARY

Tectonic Plates
Large pieces of Earth's crust and upper mantle that move slowly. Most earthquakes occur at plate
boundaries.

Fault
A crack or break in Earth's crust where rocks on either side move relative to each other.

Focus (Hypocenter)

The point underground where the earthquake originates — where energy is first released.

Epicenter

The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus. Strongest shaking is felt here.

Seismic Waves
Waves of energy that travel through Earth from the focus during an earthquake.

Seismograph

Instrument that detects and records seismic waves. The record is called a seismogram.

Magnitude

Measure of energy released. Each whole number = ~10× more ground motion, ~32× more energy.

Aftershock
Smaller earthquake that follows the main shock in the same area.

TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES

WAVE NAME MOVEMENT SPEED & TRAVEL

P-waves Primary Compress and expand rock (push-pull); travel Fastest — arrive first
through solids, liquids, and gases

S-waves Secondary Move rock up-down or side-to-side Slower — arrive

(perpendicular); travel through solids ONLY second

Surface L-waves Travel along Earth's surface with rolling/shaking Slowest — cause the
waves motion MOST damage

WHERE EARTHQUAKES OCCUR

Most earthquakes occur at plate boundaries where plates meet.

Transform boundary: Plates slide past each other → frequent earthquakes. Example:
San Andreas Fault, California.

Convergent boundary: Plates collide; one slides under (subduction) → powerful

earthquakes + tsunamis.

Divergent boundary: Plates move apart → generally less severe earthquakes.

The Ring of Fire (around Pacific Ocean) is the world's most seismically active zone.

EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

Ground shaking → building collapse, landslides, sinkholes

Tsunamis: Undersea earthquakes displace ocean water → giant destructive waves

 Liquefaction: Ground behaves like liquid during intense shaking → structures sink

Fires from broken gas lines

Aftershocks: smaller earthquakes following the main event

LOCATING THE EPICENTER

Scientists use triangulation — they measure the difference in arrival times of P-waves and
S-waves at at least 3 seismograph stations. Where the three distance circles intersect =
the epicenter.

Earthquake Safety: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Buildings in earthquake zones use flexible
foundations and reinforced structures. Earthquakes cannot be predicted precisely, but high-
risk zones are identified through fault monitoring.

Science Exam: Sunday, May 17, 2026 · 2 Hours · Grade 7 · Inspire Science
All 7 lessons covered · Key concepts only · Good luck! ⚡