Functioning Ecosystems

Question 1

Food Chain

Answer 1

Simple linear arrangement of organisms showing the flow of matter and energy from one organism to another through feeding relationships.

Question 2

Consumer

Answer 2

Organism that eats other living organism (or part of an organism) for nutrition.

Question 3

Productivity

Answer 3

Amount of energy fixed in organic compounds; measured by increase of biomass per unit of time.

Question 4

Photosynthetic Efficiency

Answer 4

The fraction of light energy that plants and algae convert into chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Question 5

Gross Primary Production

Answer 5

The total amount of organic matter in an ecosystem produced as a result of photosynthesis.

Question 6

Net Primary Production

Answer 6

Amount of energy available for herbivores in an ecosystem.

Question 7

Specialist Feeder

Answer 7

A heterotroph that can thrive only on a limited diet.

Question 8

Generalised Feeder

Answer 8

A heterotroph with a varied diet.

Question 9

Detritus

Answer 9

Organic Debris from decomposing plants and animals.

Question 10

Detritivore

Answer 10

An organism that feeds on detritus.

Question 11

Decomposer

Answer 11

An organism (e.g. bacteria and fungi) that utilises dead organisms or waste matter for its nutrient, releasing simple inorganic molecules.

Question 12

Trophic Level

Answer 12

A feeding level in a food chain e.g. producer, herbivore.

Question 13

Food Web

Answer 13

All the possible feeding relations in an ecosystem.

Question 14

Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy

Answer 14

Matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be changed to other forms.

Question 15

Ecological Pyramid

Answer 15

A model of the relationships between different organisms in a food chain.

Question 16

Pyramid of Numbers

Answer 16

A model of the numbers of organisms at each trophic level of a food chain.

Question 17

Pyramid of Biomass

Answer 17

A model of the amount of living matter transferred through a food chain.

Question 18

Pyramid of Energy

Answer 18

A model of the amount of energy transferred through food chains.

Question 19

Standing Crop

Answer 19

Biomass of an organism at any particular moment.

Question 20

Biogeochemical Cycles

Answer 20

Circulation of chemical elements in the biosphere.

Question 21

Nutrient Cycle

Answer 21

Cycling of a particular element between biotic and abiotic ecosystem components.

Question 22

Reservoir Pool

Answer 22

Large abiotic component of a biogeochemical cycle in which matter is slowly exchanged with organisms.

Question 23

Cycling Pool

Answer 23

Small compartment of a biogeochemical cycle with active exchange of matter between organisms and the environment.

Question 24

Upwelling

Answer 24

Upward movement of deep, cold water to replace warm surface water.

Question 25

Guano

Answer 25

Sedimentary rock, rich in phosphates, formed from the build-up of sea birds excreta.

Question 26

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 26

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to nitrate by bacteria and cyanobacteria.

Question 27

Nitrifying Bacteria

Answer 27

Bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate.

Question 28

Denitrifying Bacteria

Answer 28

Bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrite, or atmospheric nitrogen or nitrite to ammonia.

Question 29

Keystone Species

Answer 29

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance by maintaining local biodiversity within a community either by controlling populations of other species that would otherwise dominate the community or by providing critical resources.

Question 30

Umbrella Species

Answer 30

Species selected when making decisions about conservation because they are representative of other species, and protecting them indirectly protects other species in the same habitat.

Question 31

Flagship Species

Answer 31

A species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation in a chosen place or context.