Ecosystems

Question 1

What is an Ecosystem

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a natural environment and includes the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) that live and interact within that environment.

Question 2

Biotic Factor

Answer 2

Living

e.g Plants and Animals

Question 3

Abiotic Factor

Answer 3

Non-living

e.g Soil and climate

Question 4

Organisms in an ecosystem: Producer

Answer 4

Uses sunlight energy to produce food → Grass

Question 5

Organisms in an ecosystem: Consumer

Answer 5

Gets its energy by eating other organisms

They eat producers (rabbit → grass) or consumers (fox → rabbits)

Question 6

Organisms in an ecosystem: Decomposer

Answer 6

Gets its energy by breaking down dead material → dead producers (fallen leaves) + dead consumers (animal remains)

Bacteria + fungi are decomposers

Question 7

Nutrient cycle

Answer 7

Dead material decomposes → nutrients is released into soil
↓
Nutrients taken up by plants → Plants eaten by consumers
↓
Plant or consumer dies → nutrients is returned to the soil
↓
Transfer of nutrients is nutrient cycling

Question 8

Food Chain

Answer 8

Shows what eats what

Question 9

Food web

Answer 9

Shows lots of food chains + how they overlap

Question 10

Interdependent ecosystem

Answer 10

All components depend on each other

If one part changes it affects all the other parts that depend on it

Question 11

Slipton Lay Reed beds

Answer 11

Fresh water lagoon - contains on of the largest fresh water reed beds

Located in south Devon

Question 12

Slipton Lay Reed beds - Common Reed

Answer 12

• One of the main producers
• Birds (bittens + herons) nest in reed bed + feed on fish
• Birds (bearded tits) feed off reed seed heads
• Consumers (water voles) feed on reeds
• Reed roots bind the soil together → prevent erosion
• Fish use reeds for shelter
• Bacteria decompose dead organic matter
• Insects lay eggs in water → Fish + frogs eat insects

Question 13

Slipton Lay Reed beds - Food chain

Answer 13

Common reed → Moth larva → Eel → Bittern

Question 14

Slipton Lay Reed beds - Food web

Answer 14

Bittern 
↓
Eel    Frog
↓
Dragonfly Larva   Dragonfly   
↓ 
Moth Larva   Water beetle
↓
Common reed

Question 15

Slipton Lay Reed beds - Changes

Answer 15

Drought dries up pools → Insect larvae die → Fish + frog population decrease → Bittern numbers decrease

Question 16

Global ecosystems - Tundra

Answer 16

Location : High latitudes → Northern Europe, Canada, Alaska

Climate : Winters are cold, Summers brief, little rainfall

Vegetation : Few trees, mosses, grasses + low shrubs

Permafrost → layer of permanently frozen ground

Question 17

Global ecosystems - Grassland

Answer 17

Savannah
Location : Between the tropics

Climate : Distinct dry + wet seasons, rainfall is low

Vegetation : Few trees, grasses

Temperate
Location : Higher latitudes

Climate : More variation in temperature, less rainfall

Vegetation : Grasses, no trees

Question 18

Global ecosystems - Deciduous Forest

Answer 18

Location : Mid latitudes

Climate : 4 Distinct seasons, rainfall all year round

Vegetation : Deciduous trees lose leaves in winter → cope with colder weather

Question 19

Global ecosystems - Polar

Answer 19

Location : North + South poles

Climate : Very cold, icy, dry

Vegetation : Not much grows → growing season is short as it remains dark for several months

Question 20

Global ecosystems - Hot desert

Answer 20

Location : 15 + 35 degrees north + south of equator

Climate : Little rainfall, Hot during day + cold at night

Vegetation : Shrubs, cacti

Question 21

Global ecosystems - Tropical Rainforest

Answer 21

Location : Around the equator between the tropics

Climate : Hot + wet all year round

Vegetation : Dense canopies of vegetation with distinct layers

Question 22

Global ecosystems - Boreal forest

Answer 22

Location : 50 + 60 degrees north

Climate : Winters cold + dry, Summers mild + moist

Vegetation : Trees are coniferous