Environmental Issues

Question 1

Ecosystem Definition

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a community of living things that interact with each other and with their environment in which they live.

Question 2

Features of an ecosystem

Answer 2

Ecosystem, related to particular place and time, represents the sum of all-natural organisms whether living or non-living of that area
The organisation of ecosystem includes three factors;
(a) energy factors
(b) biotic factors
(c) abiotic factors

Question 3

Biodiversity definition

Answer 3

Biodiversity is the total variety amongst living things on earth

Question 4

Biotic factors

Answer 4

• Living parts of the ecosystem – the animals, plants and microorganisms
• Living or once-living organisms in the ecosystem
• Biotic components shape an ecosystem and are the living components in the organism’s environment
• Examples include: plants, animals, fungi, bacteria etc.

Question 5

Abiotic factors

Answer 5

• Non-living parts of an ecosystem
• Abiotic factors refer to non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem
• Abiotic resources are usually obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere
• Examples include: water, sunlight, soil, air, temperature etc.

Question 6

Carbon Cycle

Answer 6

The main ways that carbon gets into the carbon cycle are volcanoes, and the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas. The main way carbon gets taken out of the atmosphere is by photosynthesis by living organisms.

Question 7

Nitrogen cycle

Answer 7

The nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the atmosphere (the air), and soil in the ground. Nitrogen is an important element to all life on Earth.

Question 8

The importance of the carbon and nitrogen cycle

Answer 8

Living things need carbon in order to live, grow, and reproduce. Carbon is a finite resource that cycles through the Earth in many forms. This makes carbon available to living organisms and remains in balance with other chemical reactions in the atmosphere and in bodies of water like ponds and oceans.

Question 9

How energy flows through different ecosystems

Answer 9

Sun < producers < consumers < decomposers

Question 10

Food chains and food webs

Answer 10

• Food chains and food webs show how organisms get energy from their food
• Food webs show interconnected or overlapping food chains