Environmental Science (For Test) Flashcards
what is another word for living things in an Ecosystem?
Biotic elements.
What is another word for non-living things in an Ecosystem?
abiotic element.
Biotic elements have five basic needs for survival. What are they?
- oxygen
- water
- food
- energy
- suitable habitat (place to live)
What processes do the producers use to make food?
photosynthesis
What are the three roles the producers have in an ecosystem?
- They produce oxygen.
- They supply food.
- They provide shelter.
List two ways the Sun supports life.
heat and light
Explain why photosynthesis is important
for ecosystems everywhere.
because they produce all of the original chemical energy in the ecosystem.
What are the three types of consumers?
- Herbivores
- Carnivores
- Omnivores
What do herbivores eat?
Plants
What do Carnivores eat?
Meat
What do Omnivores eat?
Both (Plants and Meat)
Define Prey
An animal that is hunted for food
Define Predator
The animal that hunts and consumes
the prey
What are the three Special Consumers?
Scavengers, Detritivores, and Decomposers
Define Scavengers
Scavengers are consumers that do not usually kill
their own food. Instead, they feed off the remains of dead animals.Crows, ravens, and housefly larvae
(maggots) are examples of scavengers.
Define Detritivores
Detritivores are consumers that feed off waste. Snails and earthworms are common examples
of detritivores.
Define Decompose
Decomposers are consumers that break down
(decompose) dead plants and animals into smaller pieces.
Fungi, such as mushrooms and mould on bread, fruits, and vegetables, are decomposers.
What is the main difference between a
producer and a consumer?
Producers are capable of photosynthesis, a process by which they convert light energy into chemical energy, while consumers use respiration
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a large community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) in a particular area
What are the 4 types of an ecosystem?
artificial (Human-made: Zoo), terrestrial (land-based: tundra, forests), lentic (non-flowing water: lake, pond, swamp) and lotic (flowing water: river)
Define Biome
A biome can be made up of many ecosystems.
What are the 7 main biomes?
tropical rainforests, temperate forests, deserts, tundra, taiga, grasslands, and savanna
Producers vs Consumers Vs Decomposers
Producers can make their own food by capturing the sun’s energy.
Consumers need to eat other organisms to obtain energy
Decomposers are like the recyclers of nature. A decomposer is an organism that decomposes or breaks down, organic material such as the remains of dead organisms
What are some abiotic parts in an environment?
sunlight, temperature, wind, water, soil
