Interactions Within Ecosystems

Question 1

what 4 actions can negatively impact the environment?

Answer 1

1. food wastage
2. using of more electricity
3. water wastage
4. creating of excessive waste

Question 2

how does our wasting of food impact the environment?

Answer 2

wasting of the earth’s natural resources > growing crops and livestock for food requires water , energy, minerals from the soil and other resources

Question 3

how does our using of more electricity impact the environment?

Answer 3

contributes to climate change > electrical energy is obtained by burning fuels. the more electricity is used, the more fuels are burned and the more carbon dioxide is given out

Question 4

how does our using of more water impact the environment?

Answer 4

fresh water is depleted more quickly > fresh water is a natural resource on earth, being less than 1% of the earths water

Question 5

how does our creating of excessive waste impact the environment?

Answer 5

kills marine organisms > when excessive waste is produced, more waste needs to be disposed of. waste that is disposed of in the oceans can poison or kill marine animals that consume it

Question 6

how much energy is passed down from one trophic level to another?

Answer 6

10%

Question 7

state 2 differences between nutrient cycles and energy flow

Answer 7

1. nutrient cycles are cyclical, while energy flow is linear
2. nutrients can be recycled, while energy is lost from the ecosystem

Question 8

what are greenhouse gases?

Answer 8

gases that have the property of being able to absorb infra-red radiation / heat

Question 9

what role do decomposers play in a food web?

Answer 9

• feeding on / breaking down the remains of dead organisms and faeces
• returning nutrients to the environment
• releasing energy through respiration (as heat)

Question 10

why is the energy flow in a food web non-cyclical?

Answer 10

energy cannot be reused by the producers for photosynthesis

Question 11

why is the the flow of nutrients cyclical?

Answer 11

nutrients are returned to the environment and can be used by producers

Question 12

how do producers obtain energy?

Answer 12

producers obtain energy from the sun by photosynthesis

Question 13

how do consumers obtain energy?

Answer 13

consumers obtain energy by feeding on other organisms

Question 14

explain the flow of nutrients

Answer 14

producers are eaten by consumers > nutrients are transferred to the consumers > decomposers break down dead organisms and faeces > nutrients return to the environment