Chapter 9: Natural Ecosystems and Human Activities Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
A: An ecosystem includes all the living things (biotic components) and all the non-living things (abiotic components) in an area.
Q: What is a habitat?
A: A habitat is the place within an ecosystem where an organism lives.
Q: Define “population” in ecological terms.
A: A population is all the organisms of one species living in a defined area at the same time.
Q: What does “niche” refer to in ecology?
A: A niche is the role of a species within the ecosystem.
Q: How does a food web differ from a food chain?
A: A food web shows the relationship between all or most of the producers, primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers in an ecosystem, unlike a food chain which focuses on a single pathway.
Q: What is a community in an ecosystem?
A: A community is a group of populations of different species that live together in an area and interact with each other.
Q: Name an important function of wetlands.
A: Wetlands provide shoreline protection, maintain water quality, control floods, recharge aquifers, and offer habitats.
Q: Explain the concept of a pyramid of numbers.
A: A pyramid of numbers represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem by a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to the numbers at that level.
Q: What is a food chain?
A: A food chain is a diagram showing the relationship between a single producer and primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers.
Q: Explain predation.
A: Predation is when one animal eats another animal.
Q: Describe tertiary consumers.
A: Tertiary consumers derive their food from secondary consumers.
Q: What role do primary consumers play in an ecosystem?
A: Primary consumers derive their food from producers.
Q: Why do food chains typically have no more than 4 or 5 trophic levels?
A: Food chains have limited trophic levels because energy is lost at each level due to heat, cellular respiration, growth, feces, and incomplete digestion.
Q: Define “producers” in an ecosystem.
A: Producers are organisms within an ecosystem that can carry out photosynthesis.
Q: What is a trophic level?
A: A trophic level is a feeding level within a food chain or food web.
Q: What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?
A: Decomposers derive their food from the bodies of dead organisms.
Q: Why is nitrogen important for plants?
A: Nitrogen is essential for synthesizing proteins and other vital substances in plants, contributing to growth and development.
Q: What does relative humidity (RH) measure?
A: Relative humidity measures how damp the air is, expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold if fully saturated.
Q: How does deforestation contribute to climate change?
A: Deforestation increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere by releasing carbon stored in trees and reducing the number of trees available for photosynthesis.
Q: What are secondary consumers?
A: Secondary consumers are organisms that derive their food from primary consumers.
Q: What is pollination?
A: Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma for fertilization to occur.
Q: What are some causes of habitat loss?
A: Causes include drainage of wetlands, intensive agricultural practices, and deforestation.
Q: What is deforestation, and what are its impacts?
A: Deforestation is the clearance of forests, leading to habitat loss, soil erosion, and contributions to climate change.
Q: What is sustainable tourism?
A: Sustainable tourism involves managing tourism in a way that prevents damage to habitats and ensures the growth of the tourist industry is dependent on maintaining the environment.
