Ecosystem Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
Specific area where living organisms, (biotic components) interact with each other and their nonliving a ( abiotic components) environment .
Give different examples of ecosystems
Sky
water
Savannah
rainforest
tropical forest
Identify biotic components of an ecosystem
Birds
Penguin
Ants
Plants or flowers
Fish and worms
Identify abiotic components in an ecosystem.
Rocks
Sand dirt
Water
Bones of corpses
How many characteristics does a organism have to have in order to be classified alive?
7
List seven characteristics
Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity
Nutrition
Excretion
Reproduction
Growth
Describe the characteristic movement
Action of an organism part of the organism, causing a change in position.
Describe the characteristic respiration (4)
Chemical reaction, (taking place in all living cells) that breaks down glucose and releases energy for metabolism.
Describe characteristic sensitivity
Ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal and external environment.
Describe characteristic nutrition (4)
Taking in materials for energy growth and development.
Describe the characteristic excretion
Removal of waste products of metabolism, and substances, in excess to recoverment.
Describe the characteristic reproduction
Make more of the same kind of organism.
Describe the characteristic growth
Permanent increase in size and dry mass.
What is another name for ecosystems?
Biomes
Name the different types of biomes found in South Africa (7)
- Savanna
- Succulent Karoo
- Nama Karoo
- Thicket
- Fynbos
- Forest
- Grassland
What is a habitat?
Place where organism lives
What different habitats exist in ecosystems
- trees
- Ants
- Lion
- ferns
- moss
- jackal
- giraffe
- ground
- ant hill
- savannah
- forest, shady soil
- damp sandy soil
- barrow in the soil
- Savannah
What is bioaccumulation?
- toxic substances in the environment, buildup in organisms in a food chain.
- Produces will have less toxic substances than organisms higher up in the food chain.
What impact does bioaccumulation have in an ecosystem? (2)
- Organisms can become sick and even die.
- People eating the organisms can also become sick.
What are invasive species?
A species that is not native to an (area brought to country by people)
Name some invasive species found in Namibia. (2)
Honey mosquito
Water fern
How does the introduction of an invasive species in an area affect the rest of ecosystem? (3)
- Invasive species will often outcompete the local organisms for available resources.
- Local organisms will decrease in number.
- Local organisms could become extinct
