Interactions and Interdependence: Ecology and ecosystems

Question 1

What is the environment made up of?

Answer 1

Different ecosystems.

Question 2

What make up the living parts of an ecosystem?

Answer 2

Animals, plants, bacteria, protists and fungi.

Question 3

What make up the non-living parts of an ecosystem?

Answer 3

The conditions the organisms need in order to survive. Eg. Amount of light and water, air, the right temperature and soil.

Question 4

What are the four different levels of interactions?

Answer 4

Populations, communities, ecosystems and biosphere.

Question 5

Give an example of a population.

Answer 5

All the dandelions on a lawn.

This is just a guideline, there are many others as well

Question 6

Give an example of a community.

Answer 6

A wetland community with a population of fish, a population of frogs, a population of algae and a population of reeds.

This is just a guideline, there are many others as well

Question 7

What is the non-living part of an ecosystem called?

Answer 7

The habitat.

Question 8

What is the living part of an ecosystem called?

Answer 8

The community.

Question 9

Name the 4 subsystems called “spheres”

Answer 9

Biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere

Question 10

Name an ecosystem found on land.

Answer 10

Desert, forest, grassland…

Question 11

Name an ecosystem found in water.

Answer 11

River, coastal

Question 12

How are feeding relationships shown?

Answer 12

In a food chain or web.

Question 13

True or false:

Different populations in a community will depend on each other for food.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or false:

If the population of one organism changes, it won’t affect the numbers of other organisms in the food web.

Answer 14

False

It WILL affect the numbers of other organisms in the food web.

Question 15

Give an example of an interaction between organisms.

Answer 15

Pollination of certain plants by animals like mammals, insects and birds.

Question 16

Fill in the gaps:

An ecosystem consists of two parts; a _____ part (biotic factors) and a _____ part (abiotic factors)

Answer 16

Living, non-living

Question 17

What do living organisms compete for?

Answer 17

• Food
• Light
• Water
• Space
• Mates

Question 18

True or false:

Feeding relationships between living things are not important biotic factors in ecosystems.

Answer 18

False

Feeding relationships between living things are other particularly important biotic factors in ecosystems.

Question 19

How does temperature affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 19

Most organisms live in temperatures between 0-40 degrees celsius. Temperatures will vary with the seasons, as well as with day and night.

Question 20

How does wind affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 20

Wind can stunt growth and affect animal activities. Wind is also used by some plants for pollination and the distribution of seeds.

Question 21

How does water affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 21

In areas where water is limited, plants and animals must be able to reduce water loss.

Question 22

How does light affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 22

Plants need light for photosynthesis. Some plants grow better in shade while others grow best in full sunlight.

Question 23

How does soil affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 23

Soils are classified as sandy, loamy or clayey, which all have different properties. These properties influence the kind of plants that can grown in them.

Question 24

How does slope affect living organisms in an ecosystem?

Answer 24

Water runs off steep slopes quickly and there is little soil because of erosion. Few plants can grow in these conditions.

Question 25

True or false:

There is a specific size range for ecosystems to be classified as ecosystems.

Answer 25

False

The size of an ecosystem varies

Question 26

Give an example of a large ecosystem

Answer 26

Forest, grassland

These are just a guideline. There are many more

Question 27

Give an example of a small ecosystem

Answer 27

Rotting log, puddle of water

These are just a guideline. There are many more

Question 28

Fill in the word:

For plants and animals to survive in an ecosystem, they need to be able to _____ with changes to the habitat.

Answer 28

Cope/adapt