Ecosystems Flashcards
what do ecosystems form?
food webs
define ecosystem
a community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other in a specific environment.
are abiotic factors included in an ecosystem? If so, list a few
yes
-water
-soil
-air
list the 5 characteristics you need to have in order to be considered living
-need to be made out of cells
-acquire and use energy
-grow and develop
reproduce
-respond and adapt to their environment
define a trophic relationship
Trophic relationships refer to feeding relationships between living organisms in the same ecosystem.
how many trophic levels are there in an ecosystem? List all of them
there are 3
-producers (autotrophs)
-consumers (heterotrophs)
-decomposers
give an example of an autotroph. Where are they typically found in the food chain?
plants, algae, phytoplankton
they are typically found at the bottom. they can produce their own food
autotrophs produce inorganic matter from organic matter. true or false?
false.
they produce organic matter from inorganic matter.
how do autotrophs produce food?
photosynthesis
what are heterotrophs? What do they do?
They eat living things to survive. They are consumers
what are the 3 types of consumers? Describe what they do. How are they classified?
-Herbivores eat autotrophs. They are called primary consumers
-Carnivores eat other consumers. If they eat herbivores they are secondary consumers. If they eat other carnivores they are tertiary consumers.
-Omnivores eat autotrophs and other consumers. What they are classified as depends on what they choose to eat at a given time.
what do decomposers do?
They feed on dead matter and/or waste or producers and consumers.
when does chemical recycling occur?
it happens when decomposers turn organic matter into organic matter. This inorganic matter then turns back into organic matter by way of photosynthesis
