Ecosystem

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a complex natural system made up of plants animals and the environment.

Question 2

What are global scale ecosystems called?

Answer 2

Biomes

Question 3

What do the producers do in an ecosystem?

Answer 3

Producers for example plants convert energy from the Sun by photosynthesis into carbohydrates for growth

Question 4

What do you consumers do in an ecosystem?

Answer 4

Consumers get their energy from eating producers creating direct links within ecosystems and more complex food webs.

Question 5

What do you decomposers do in an ecosystem?

Answer 5

dead plants and animal material is broken down by the composers for example bacteria and fungi to add to nutrients within the soil

Question 6

What are the nutrients that are broken down by decomposers used for?

Answer 6

These nutrients are then used by plants in a process called nutrient cycling

Question 7

Give an example of a food chain

Answer 7

Grass —> Zebra —> Lion

Question 8

How do natural changes impact change in an ecosystem?

Answer 8

Slow natural changes have few harmful effects but rapid changes have serious impacts. For example, extreme weather events like droughts can be devastating to freshwater ponds killing fish, plants and birds that are dependent upon them

Question 9

How can ecosystems change due to human activities?

Answer 9

Activities can have many impact on the ecosystem any one change can have serious knock on effects. For Example deforestation destroys habitats for birds and affects to nutrient cycle.

Question 10

What are tundra ecosystems?

Answer 10

• They are mainly located between the arctic circle about 60° to 70° north
• Have cold windy and dry conditions support low growing plants easily damaged by development for example oil exploitation and tourism

Question 11

What is it that deciduous and coniferous forest?

Answer 11

• They are located roughly 50° to 60° north
• Deciduous tree shed their leaves in winter but cone bearing coniferous evergreen are better suited to colder climates and so dominate further north

Question 12

What are temperate grassland and where are they located?

Answer 12

• They are located 30° to 40° north and south of the equator and always inland
• The warm dry summers and cold winters support grasses for grazing animals

Question 13

What are Mediterranean ecosystems like?

Answer 13

isolated location south of the equator hot sunny dry summers and mild winters this supports olive groves and citrus fruits.

Question 14

Why do most biomes form broad latitudinal belts across the world?

Answer 14

This is because the climate and characteristics of ecosystems are determined by global atmospheric circulation.