B17(Organising An Ecosystem)

Question 1

What are producers

Answer 1

Organisms that produce their own food using energy from the Sun

Question 2

What is a consumer

Answer 2

An organism that obtains its energy by feeding on other organisms

Question 3

What is a food chain

Answer 3

the feeding interactions between the organisms in a community

Question 4

What are primary consumers

Answer 4

producers are eaten by primary consumers (herbivores/omnivores)

Question 5

What are secondary consumers

Answer 5

primary consumers are eaten by secondary consumers (carnivores/omnivores)

Question 6

What are Tertiary consumers

Answer 6

secondary consumers are eaten by tertiary consumers (carnivores/omnivores)

Question 7

What is the source of all energy in a food chain

Answer 7

Light energy from the sun

Question 8

What are predators

Answer 8

Consumers that kill and eat other animals

Question 9

What is prey

Answer 9

Organisms that are killed and eaten by consumers

Question 10

What is the pattern of predator-prey cycles

Answer 10

-The number of predators increases as there is more prey available
-The number of prey then decreases as there are now more predators
-The number of predators decreases as there is now less prey available
-The number of prey increases as there are now fewer predators
-The cycle now repeats

Question 11

What are the processes of the carbon cycle

Answer 11

-Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide by plants and algae during photosynthesis
-This carbon is passed on to animals when they feed on plants and algae
-It is returned to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, during respiration by plants, animals and microorganisms
-If animals and plants die in conditions where decomposing microorganisms are not present, the carbon in their bodies can be converted, over millions of years and significant pressure, into fossil fuels
-When wood or fossil fuels are burned the carbon within them combines with oxygen and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere

Question 12

What are the processes of the water cycle

Answer 12

Question 13

What is decomposition

Answer 13

Decomposition is the process by which dead organisms are broken down and the materials they contain are returned to the environment

Question 14

What are decomposers

Answer 14

Decomposers include microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and detritus feeders

Question 15

What are detritus feeders

Answer 15

organisms that obtain nutrients from decomposing plant and animal material, and faeces

Question 16

What are the Factors affecting rate of decay

Answer 16

Question 17

What are the Uses of Decomposition

Answer 17

-Compost
-Biogas generators

Question 18

What is the process of biogas generators

Answer 18

-Some decomposing microorganisms can break down biological material without oxygen
-Anaerobic decay produces methane gas (as well as carbon dioxide) – together these products are given the term ‘biogas’
-The methane produced can be burned as a fuel:

Question 19

What are the environmental factors that can affect the distribution of organisms

Answer 19

Temperature
Availability of water
Composition of atmospheric gases

Question 20

How does temperature effect the distribution of organisms

Answer 20

-Organisms have adaptations that enable them to survive within a certain temperature range
-As climate change occurs and average temperatures rise, the distribution of species is changing

Question 21

How does the Availability of water effect the distribution of organisms

Answer 21

All organisms require water to survive, either directly or indirectly (water may provide a habitat for species and is essential for the growth of plants that support whole food chains and food webs)

Question 22

How does the Composition of atmospheric gases effect the distribution of organisms

Answer 22

Oxygen is required for aerobic respiration in plants and animals
Carbon dioxide is required for photosynthesis