2) Oceans Flashcards
Define a food chain. How is it different from a food web?
A food chain shows the linear flower of nutrients and energy from one level to another while a food web is more complex and includes every food chain in the ecosystem.
Explain the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in a food chain.
Producers feed on sunlight, while consumers eat other living things for energy, and decomposers break down dead plants and animals.
Provide an example of a simple terrestrial food chain, including the primary producer, primary consumer, and secondary consumer.
Primary producer= Leaf
Primary consumer= Worm
Secondary consumer= bird
Describe how energy flows through a food chain and why it decreases at each trophic level.
Each step up the food chain only 10% of energy is moved because 90% are lost as heat.
What are the consequences of disruptions in a food chain, such as the loss of a key predator?
*Prey overpopulation: Predators help control the populations of their prey, without them it can lead to habitat degredation which consumes most natural resources in that environmen.
* Changes in biodiversity: The prey population will explode and need more food so other species that provide energy to them will decline rapidly.
What are the consequences of disruptions in a food chain, such as the loss of a primary producer?
- Population decline: Species that feed on the producer will decline because there aren’t enough food.
- Ecosystem imbalance: The consumer population’s decline will impact the foodweb as well since its intertwined. Ultimately, the foodweb will see the lack energy and nutrients whether it is minimal or impactful.
Define a food web and explain why they are more representative of real ecosystems compared to simple food chains.
A food web shows clear links between food chains as food web represents all food chains inside a ecosystem while food chains are more sealed off which isn’t true because often times species are interlinked.
How does biodiversity within a food web contribute to ecosystem stability and resilience?
Biodiversity provides more species inside the foodweb which is more stable than the whole system running on a few species because when disasters struck a certain species, the foodweb is prone to collaspe.
What is a habitat, and how is it different from an ecosystem?
A habitat is an area where organisms lives and thrive while an ecosystem is both the habitat and the living organisms interactions.
Explain the concept of biodiversity in habitats and why it is essential for ecosystem health.
Biodiversity in habitats provide a more diverse environment for different species to thrive in, it will mean the ecosystem have more interactions and if anything goes wrong it has less risks of completely ruining the ecosystem.
Discuss the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and urbanization, on natural habitats and biodiversity
Deforestation and urbanization mean organisms that live in those areas will have to evacuate to a new location, this is dangerous because these migration could mean a collaspe in another ecosystem because its not ready for this new increase in population. It will also mean the loss of biodiversity which makes the ecosystem less productive and resilient.
How do habitats change with seasonal variations, and what adaptations do organisms make to survive these changes?
Some animal like bears and rabbits hibernate through the harsh winter to conserve energy, this is a type of behavioural adaptation where animals changes their action to fit an environment.
How does ocean acidification affect marine food chains and ecosystems?
Ocean acidification is when the pH lowers in the ocean due to an increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean. Carbon dioxide + water -> carbonic acid
This affect the marine food chains because some sea creatures rely on shells or skeletons to protect themselves, with the acid eroding away their protective organs it will mean a decline in their population. If these species go extinct it could mean a collapse in the food chain and ecosystem.
Define adaptation in the context of biology. How do adaptations help organisms survive in their habitats?
Adaptation helps organisms survive in their habitats by creating a change in behaviour or structure. This means the organism will either act or look a certain way to survive.
Explain the role of natural selection in driving adaptations over time.
Natural selection leaves the best of the species to survive so the species can keep evolving and producing better features that suit the habitat or ecosystem.
