Different Ecosystems Flashcards
What are mangroves, and where do they grow?
Mangroves are trees that grow with their roots in sea water, forming forests along tropical coastlines.
What organisms live among mangrove roots, and how do they benefit?
Young fish live among the roots, where they are safe from predators.
What role do mangrove leaves play in the ecosystem?
Fallen mangrove leaves are decomposed by bacteria, providing food for prawns and crabs.
What do crab-eating macaques do in mangrove forests?
They climb trees and roots to catch crabs for food.
What do crab-eating macaques do in mangrove forests?
They climb trees and roots to catch crabs for food.
Why does sea ice form in the Arctic Ocean during winter?
The temperatures are so cold that seawater freezes.
How do seals survive in the Arctic ecosystem?
They hunt fish underwater but must come to the surface to breathe.
What role do polar bears play in the Arctic ecosystem?
Polar bears patrol the ice, hunting seals for food. They can swim and move between ice floes.
What organisms live under Arctic ice, and what is their role in the food chain?
Tiny algae grow under the ice, providing food for shrimp-like organisms, which are then eaten by fish.
Are all ecosystems natural? Provide an example.
No, not all ecosystems are natural. For example, rice paddies in Malaysia are ecosystems farmed by people.
What happens to rice paddies at certain times of the year?
They are flooded with water, allowing algae to grow in the shallow water and on the mud at the edges.
What animals are found in flooded rice paddies?
Fish swim into the paddies from irrigation canals, and frogs and dragonflies breed in the water.
What animals are found in flooded rice paddies?
Fish swim into the paddies from irrigation canals, and frogs and dragonflies breed in the water.
How does the shallow water in rice paddies affect the temperature?
The shallow water heats up quickly during the day and cools down rapidly at night.
Why do farmers add fertilizer to rice paddies?
Fertilizer helps rice and algae grow faster, providing more food for animals in the ecosystem.
Why do farmers add fertilizer to rice paddies?
Fertilizer helps rice and algae grow faster, providing more food for animals in the ecosystem.
What role do birds play in rice paddy ecosystems?
Many birds feed in and around the paddy fields.
