Life Science: Biology · Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

HS-LS2-6Ecosystem Stability and Change

Performance expectation

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

What NYSED says about assessing it

Clarification statement

Examples of changes in ecosystem conditions could include ecological succession, modest biological or physical changes, such as moderate hunting or seasonal floods; and extreme changes, such as volcanic eruption or sea level rise.

The three dimensions

Every item written to HS-LS2-6 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

Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Disciplinary core ideas
  • LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
Crosscutting concepts
  • Stability and Change

Related performance expectations

Generate a cluster for HS-LS2-6

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.