Feeding Relationships Flashcards
What is Ecology?
The study of ecosystems which is the relationships between organisms and their environment.
What are the two types of environments? Explain each.
Biotic- Living things in the environment environment such as trees and animals.
Abiotic- Non-living environment such as light, temperature or water
What is a habitat?
A habitat is the place where an organism lives.
What is a population?
Where organisms of the same species live in a particular habitat.
What is a community?
Various populations of different species living together in a particular habitat.
What are the three types living things in a ecosystem? Explain.
Producers- make organic substances through light, CO2,water or chemical reactions.
Consumers- consume other organisms for energy and nutrients.
Decomposer/ Detritivores- feed on and break down dead organisms.
What are the two types of producers? Explain.
Photoautotrophs- use light in the process photosynthesis to make food.
Chemoautotrophs- use energy from chemical reactions like nitrifying bacteria.
What are three types of consumers?
Herbivores- animals that only eat plants; primary consumers.
Carnivores- animals that eat other animals.
Omnivores- eat both plants and animals.
Explain detritivores vs decomposers
Detritivores are organisms that feed on the organic waste of dead plants (earthworms, beetles) and animals while decomposers are the organisms that decompose dead plants and animals. (bacteria and fungi).
Fill in the blanks: Detritivores_________ break up organic material while decomposers __________ break it down.
Physical
Chemical
What is a food chain?
A food chain is a diagram representing the feeding relationships between organisms beginning with a producer and climbing trophic levels.
What is a trophic level?
A trophic level is each stage in a food chain as it progresses
What is a food web?
A food web is many food chains linked together.
Why do food chains normally have 4-5 trophic levels?
Energy is lost at each trophic level, thus there is
less and less energy available for organisms at the higher
trophic levels.
What is predation?
Predation occurs when a predator (an animals that kills and feeds on another) kills and feeds on its prey.
