Ecology

Question 1

Explain ecosystem

Answer 1

A community of living organisms interacting with one another and their non living environment within a particular area

Question 2

Explain habitat

Answer 2

Is the place within the ecosystem where an organism lives and to which it is adapted

Question 3

explain niche

Answer 3

The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem.

Question 4

What is ecology

Answer 4

Is the study of how living things relate to each other and their environment

Question 5

What is a biosphere

Answer 5

Part of earth where life exists.

Question 6

What is a habitat

Answer 6

The place within the ecosystem where an organism lives and to which it is adapted

Question 7

What is the difference between communities and population.

Answer 7

Communities- population of different species in an area
Population-all members of the same species living in an area.

Question 8

Name the environmental factors and what they mean

Answer 8

Abiotic- these are non living factors
Biotic- living factors
Climatic- the average weather conditions that affect the community in an ecosystem
Edaphic- these refer to the soil

Question 9

What is meant by tropic level

Answer 9

Feeding stage in a food chain.

Question 10

What is meant by grazing

Answer 10

One where the initial plant is living

Question 11

What is meant by detritus

Answer 11

One where the chain begins with dead organic matter.

Question 12

What is a food web

Answer 12

Consists of two or more food chains interconnected in an ecostystem.

Question 13

What is the difference betweeen climate and weather

Answer 13

Climate- weather conditions over a long period of time
Weather- prevailing conditions over a short period of time.

Question 14

What are producers

Answer 14

Are organisms that can make their own food

Question 15

What are primary producers

Answer 15

The first members of a food chain.

Question 16

What are secondary consumers

Answer 16

Feed on primary consumers

Question 17

Define tertiary consumers

Answer 17

Feed on secondary consumers

Question 18

What is the pyramid of numbers

Answer 18

Diagram that represents number of organisms at each tropic level in a food chain.

Question 19

What are the limitations off the pyramid of numbers

Answer 19

Very difficult to draw pyramid to scale
Does not take into consideration the size of the organism.

Question 20

What is the inverted pyramid of numbers

Answer 20

Very large producer
Parasitic food chains

Question 21

What is nutrient recycling

Answer 21

The way elements are exchanged between living and non-living parts f the ecosystem

Question 22

Why is nutrient recycling important

Answer 22

To ensure there is n long term drain on earths nutrients