Ecosystems

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physics environment

Question 2

what is a decomposer?

Answer 2

organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem

Question 3

what is a consumer?

Answer 3

organisms that receive energy from consuming living organisms

Question 4

what does biotic mean?

Answer 4

living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms within an ecosystem

Question 5

what does abiotic mean?

Answer 5

non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem (e.g. soil type)

Question 6

what is a producer?

Answer 6

organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars (glucose)

Question 7

what is a food chain?

Answer 7

a linear relationship showing the biotic interactions within an ecosystem, from a producer to a final consumer

Question 8

what is a food web?

Answer 8

a representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs

Question 9

what is nutrient recycling?

Answer 9

the transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic material into the production and energy of living organisms

Question 10

what are natural causes to changes in ecosystems?

Answer 10

drought
flood
fire
disease

Question 11

what are human causes of changes to ecosystems?

Answer 11

introducing more fish
altering drainage of the land which may influence the amount of water
changing ph of water
eutrophication