1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecosystems

Answer 1

A natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment

Question 2

Local ecosystem

Answer 2

Small scale ecosystem (known as a habitat)
Eg. Pond or woodland

Question 3

Regional ecosystem

Answer 3

Medium scale
Eg.moorland area

Question 4

Global ecosystem/biome

Answer 4

Large scale
Eg. Tropical rainforest

Question 5

Biotic

Answer 5

Living components of an ecosystem

Question 6

Abiotic

Answer 6

Non-living components of an ecosystem

Question 7

Food chain

Answer 7

Direct links between producers and consumers

Question 8

Decomposer

Answer 8

Organisms like bacteria that break down dead tissues

Question 9

Food web

Answer 9

Complex connection between producers and consumers with several branches/multiple links

Question 10

Biomass

Answer 10

Total quantity/weight of organisms in given area

Question 11

Biodiversity

Answer 11

The variety of life in the world or a particular ecosystem

Question 12

Nutrient lynching

Answer 12

• where organisms extract minerals necessary for growth before passing them on through the food chain

Question 13

Physical linkage

Answer 13

Physical links between parts of the ecosystem eg. Animals eating plants

Question 14

Chemical linkage

Answer 14

Chemical links in the ecosystem eg. Mild acids in rainwater speed up the decay of dead leaves

Question 15

Primary producers

Answer 15

-Green plants that use photosynthesis - Take nutrients from the soil using their roots

Question 16

Primary consumers

Answer 16

Plant-eating animals eg. Cows or rabbits

Question 17

Secondary consumers

Answer 17

Animals that feed on herbivores
Eg. Foxes and cats

Question 18

Top carnivores

Answer 18

Animals that hunt other carnivores
Eg. Lions and wolves

Question 19

What causes the reduction of biomass on a food chain (2p)

Answer 19

• Energy is lost at each level
• Many parts of plants aren’t eaten or is excreted

Question 20

Order of consumers and producers

Answer 20

Primary producers (green plants)
Primary consumers (herbivores)
Secondary consumers (carnivores eg. fox)
Top carnivores (carnivores eg. lion