Ecosystems Flashcards
Define ecosystem
A natural network of interdependent biotic (living like plants and animals)** and abiotic** (non-living like climate and soil) components
Define abiotic
Non-living
Define Biotic
Living organisms
Define local ecosystem
A small-scale network of interdependant biotic and abiotic components (e.g pond, tree, hedge)
Define biome
A large-scale ecosystem (e.g Tropical Rainforest, Tundra)
Name 3 biotic components of an ecosystem
Plants
Animals
Insects
Name 4 abiotic components of an ecosystem
Climate
Geology
Water
Amount of sunlight
Where does all the energy in an ecosystem originate?
The sun
What is the name for the process in which plants convert the sun’s energy into food?
Photosynthesis
Define producers
Plants that convert the sun’s energy into food by photosynthesis
They always start a food chain
What do primary consumers eat?
Producers
What do secondary consumers eat?
Primary consumers
What do tertiary consumers eat?
And where in the food chain can they typically be found?
Eat both primary and secondary consumers
Usually found at the top of the food chain
Define top predator
The animal at the top of the food chain
Define decomposer
Fungi and bacteria that break down dead organic matter
What is the name for an animal that eats only plants?
Herbivore
What is the name for an animal that eats only animals?
Carnivore
What is the name for an animal that eats both plants and animals?
Omnivore
What does the direction of an arrow in a food chain refer to?
The direction the energy is travelling
What is a food chain?
A simple, linear series of links between predators and prey showing the transfer of energy through an ecosystem
What is a food web?
A complex collection of interconnected food chains showing the transfer of energy through an ecosytem
Describe the nutrient cycle
During the Autumn, the leaves of deciduous trees fall off.
The leaves will die and be decomposed by bacteria and fungi.
The nutrients from the leaves will be returned to the soil.
The roots of trees and other plants will then take the nutrients back up.
This process repeats.
How much rainfall does a desert receive annually?
Less than 250mm of rainfall a year
Name the largest desert on Earth
Antarctica
Name the largest hot desert on Earth
The Sahara
Define Biodiversity
variety of plant and animal species within an ecosystem
Name 3 things on which the level of biodiversity depends
Climate
Available habitats
Food sources
Interdependence
changes in one component can have significant impacts on other parts of the ecosystem
Feeding interactions can be shown between biotic components by which two things?
Food chains
Food webs
Name the 4 main trophic levels in order
Producers
Primary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Tertiary Consumers
What is the main purpose of decomposers?
(bacteria and fungi)
Break down dead organic matter to release energy and return nutrients back into the soil
What is a stable ecosystem?
A natural system where all biotic and abiotic components are in balance so that populations remain constant
Name 5 factors affecting biome distribution
Latitude
Precipitation
Altitude
Continentality
Ocean currents
How does latitude affect biome distribution?
With distance from the equator, temp and sunshine hours decrease
Define latitude
Measure of distance north or south of the equator
They run east to west, parallel to the equator
How does precipitation affect biome distribution?
Areas of high pressure experience low rainfall
Low pressure - High rainfall
How does altitude affect biome distribution?
Increases in altitude lead to decreases in temperature
How does continentality affect biome distribution?
Locations further inland heat up more quickly in the summer and cool more quickly in the winter
How do ocean currents affect biome distribution?
Warm and cold currents circulate in the oceans, either warming or cooling adjacent land
