chapter 4 - ecosystems

Question 1

autotroph

Answer 1

organisms that can capture energy from non living sources and convert it into forms living cells can use

Question 2

heterotroph

Answer 2

organisms that rely on other organisms for enrgy and nutrients

Question 3

consumer

Answer 3

organisms that rely on other organisms for enrgy and nutrients

Question 4

primary producers

Answer 4

first producers of energy - rich compounds that can be used later by other organisms

Question 5

photosynthesis

Answer 5

the process of harnessing solar energy and using it to convert other materials

Question 6

chemosynthesis

Answer 6

the process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

Question 7

herbivore

Answer 7

a living thing that feeds on only plants

Question 8

scavenger

Answer 8

Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators.

Question 9

carnivore

Answer 9

a living thing that eats only meat

Question 10

omnivore

Answer 10

a living thing that consumes both plants and meat

Question 11

detritivore

Answer 11

an animal which feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus. like worms

Question 12

decomposer

Answer 12

an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

Question 13

food chain

Answer 13

series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Question 14

food web

Answer 14

network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem

Question 15

phytoplankton

Answer 15

photosynthesis algae found near the ocean surface, plant like

Question 16

zooplankton

Answer 16

living plankton that eat (heterotropha) ex. krill, shrimp

Question 17

trophic level

Answer 17

each step in food chain or food web

Question 18

ecological pyramids

Answer 18

illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web

Question 19

biomass

Answer 19

total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Question 20

biogeochemical cycles

Answer 20

process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Question 21

evaporation

Answer 21

the process of turning from liquid into vapor.

Question 22

transpiration

Answer 22

Transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers. Water is necessary for plants but only a small amount of water taken up by the roots is used for growth and metabolism.

Question 23

nutrients

Answer 23

chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life

Question 24

nitrogen fixation

Answer 24

process of converting nitrogen gas into bitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use