Life Science: Biology · Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

HS-LS2-4Energy Transfer Between Trophic Levels

Performance expectation

Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.

What NYSED says about assessing it

Clarification statement

Emphasis is on using a mathematical model such as a pyramid of biomass/energy to describe the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another and that matter and energy are conserved as matter cycles and energy flows through ecosystems. Emphasis is on atoms and molecules such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen being conserved as they move through an ecosystem.

Assessment boundary

Assessment is limited to proportional reasoning to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy.

The three dimensions

Every item written to HS-LS2-4 has to assess all three dimensions together, not the content alone. This is the structural change that made older practice material stop matching the exam.

Science & engineering practice

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Disciplinary core ideas
  • LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
Crosscutting concepts
  • Energy and Matter

Related performance expectations

Generate a cluster for HS-LS2-4

Phenomenon stimulus, connected items across the required types, answer key, rubric and figures drawn deterministically from a structured spec — in the format your students will sit.