1.2 Ecosystems

Question 1

What are ecosystems? (4)

Answer 1

• ecosystems are within biomes
• network of interactions linking biotic factors (organism) and abiotic factors (air, water, soil, etc)
• abiotic components support life functions of biotic components
• ecosystems can be large (many hectares of land) or small ( a rotting log)

Question 2

What is a habitat? (2)

Answer 2

• habitats are within ecosystems

- where an organism lives

Question 3

What are nutrients? Give three examples.

Answer 3

• materials that organisms need to live and grow

- eg. carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus

Question 4

Why is water important? (3)

Answer 4

• without water no organism would survive
• cells of most living things contain between 50% - 90% water
• water carries nutrients from one place to another in ecosystems

Question 5

What is photosynthesis and what is required for it to happen?

Answer 5

• chemical reaction that converts solar energy into chemical energy usable by plants
• photosynthesis provides energy to the ecosystem
• light is required

Question 6

In what places of an ecosystem do plants receive less light? (2)

Answer 6

• forest floor, under a forest canopy

- deep waters

Question 7

Why is soil important in an ecosystem? (2)

Answer 7

• contains water and nutrients

- a home to many plants and animals

Question 8

What is ecology?

Answer 8

The study of the relation of organisms to their environment and with each other

Question 9

What are species?

Answer 9

A group of closely related organism that can reproduce with one another

Question 10

What is ecological hierarchy?

Answer 10

The order of relationships in an ecosystem:

1. Ecosystems
2. Community
3. Population
4. Organism

Question 11

What is symbiosis?

Answer 11

A relationship where two different organisms live together in close association

Question 12

What are 3 types of symbiosis?

Answer 12

• commensalism
• mutualism
• parasitism

Question 13

What is commensalism? Give an example.

Answer 13

• where one organism benefits and the other isn’t affected

- eg. barnacles on a whale

Question 14

What is mutualism? Give an example.

Answer 14

• both organisms benefit

- eg. a bee gathering nectar from a flower

Question 15

What is parasitism? Give an example.

Answer 15

• one organism benefits and the other is harmed

- eg. mountains pine beetles destroying the lodgepole pine forest

Question 16

What is a host?

Answer 16

The organism that a parasite lives in or on

Question 17

What is a niche?

Answer 17

The role and organism has within an ecosystem, which means how an organism fits into and contributes to its environment physically, chemically and biologically

Question 18

What is competition? Give an example.

Answer 18

• interaction between two or more organisms when they need the same resources in the same location at the same time
• competition can limit population size because organisms need energy to compete as well as grow and reproduce
• eg. spotted knapweek releases chemicals into the soil to prevent growth of other plants

Question 19

What is predation? What are some adaptions predators and prey have? (4)

Answer 19

• relationship where one organism (predator) kills and consumes another organism (prey)
• predators have adaptions to help them catch their prey (sharp teeth or good eyesight)
• prey have adaptions like spines, shells, camouflage, and mimicry to help avoid predators
• number of predator and prey influence each other

Question 20

What is mimicry?

Answer 20

• prey animals mimic another species that is dangerous or taste bad to avoid being eaten

Question 21

What is biodiversity?

Answer 21

Variety of all living species of plants, animals, and micro-organisms