4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring

Question 2

Population

Answer 2

A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same area at the same time

Question 3

Community

Answer 3

A group of different populations living together and interacting in a given area

Question 4

Ecosystem

Answer 4

A community and its abiotic environment

Question 5

Biome

Answer 5

A distinct and extensive ecosystem that has formed on multiple continents due to shared physical climate

Question 6

Biosphere

Answer 6

The worldwide sum of all ecosystems

Question 7

Habitat

Answer 7

The environment in which a species normally lives, or the location of a living organism

Question 8

Ecology

Answer 8

The study of interactions between organisms and their environments, both abiotic and biotic

Question 9

Autotroph

Answer 9

Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients

Question 10

Photoautotroph

Answer 10

Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients using energy from light

Question 11

Chemoautotroph

Answer 11

Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients using energy from chemical reactions

Question 12

Heterotroph

Answer 12

Organism that obtains organic molecules by feeding on other organisms

Question 13

Consumer

Answer 13

Heterotroph that ingests living (or recently killed) organism

Question 14

Detritivore

Answer 14

heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion

Question 15

Saprotroph

Answer 15

Heterotroph that externally digests dead organisms

Question 16

Detritus

Answer 16

Dead, particulate organic matter, such as decaying organic material and fecal matter

Question 17

Mixotroph

Answer 17

Organism that obtains organic molecules, either as an autotroph or as a heterotroph, depending on resource availability

Question 18

Scavenger

Answer 18

Consumer that feeds principally on dead and decaying carcasses rather than hunting live prey

Question 19

Decomposer

Answer 19

Another word for saprotroph

Question 20

Herbivore

Answer 20

Consumer that feeds principally on plant matter

Question 21

Omnivore

Answer 21

Consumer that have a principle diet composed of both plant and animal matter

Question 22

Carnivore

Answer 22

Consumer that feeds principally on animal matter

Question 23

Food Chain

Answer 23

Sequence of relationships between trophic levels in a community where each member feeds on the previous one