Ecosystems Flashcards
What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?
Biotic factors are all the LIVING organisms in the ecosystem.
What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Abiotic factors are all the NONLIVING organisms in an ecosystem.
Name 5 types of ecosystems.
Coral Reef, Desert, Tundra, Prairie, Coastal Wetland, Tropical Rain Forest
What is a niche?
A niche is a role that an organism has in an ecosystem.
What is a habitat?
A habitat is a place where an organism lives.
What is carrying capacity?
The number of organisms that can live in a habitat.
What is carrying capacity limited by?
Amount of food, water, space and shelter
What do all organisms need to live?
Energy
What are the three kinds of energy roles?
Producer, Consumer, Producer
How do producers get food for energy?
Producers make their own food for energy.
Example: Plants
How do consumers get food?
Consumers cannot make their own food. Energy comes from producers or other consumers.
Name the three types of consumers.
Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores
What do herbivores eat?
Herbivores eat only plants.
What do carnivores eat?
Carnivores eat only other animals.
What do omnivores eat?
Omnivores eat plants and animals.
What is a scavenger?
Scavengers are carnivores that feed on dead animals.
What is a decomposer?
Decomposers are organisms that get their energy by breaking down wastes and dead organisms.
How does energy pass through an ecosystem?
Energy passes through when food is eaten.
How does energy often begin in an ecosystem?
Energy often begins as the sunlight that plants use to make food.
What is a long-term relationship between two different organisms called?
symbiosis
Explain symbiosis
One organism is helped while the other organism might be harmed, helped or not affected.
Example: parasite
What is a parasite?
An organism that lives on or inside of another organism.
Example of decomposer
Bacteria, earthworms, fungus
Examples of consumers
Hawk, Rabbit
Examples of producers
Tree, grass
What is an invasive species?
An invasive species is a species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem and can be harmful to the environment. Can be plants or animals.
Name two examples of invasive species.
Zebra mussels
Garlic-mustard plant
Burmese Python
Honeysuckle
What 4 things can invasive species steal?
Space, shelter, food, water
What is mutalism? Give an example.
Type of symbiosis in which both organisms benefit.
Example: Oxpecker bird and Rhinoceros
What is parasitism? Give an example.
Type of symbiosis in which one organism benefits, but the other organism is harmed.
Example: Tick on a dog
What is commensalism? Give an example.
Type of symbiosis in which one organism benefits while the other is not affected in any way.
Example: Bird nest in a tree
