Nature of Ecosystems

Question 1

What is an ecosystem

Answer 1

A living system of plants and animals which interacts with the physical environment.can be considered at any scale. Includes all the biotic and abiotic Factors

Question 2

What is a biome

Answer 2

An ecosystem on a global scale with a climax community of plants and animals which has reached equilibrium with its environment. Has distinctive climate and vegetation

Question 3

Define biotic

Answer 3

The living environment

Eg vegetation,mammals, insects , birds

Question 4

Define abiotic

Answer 4

The non living, chemical and physical components includes climate
Eg soil characteristics, relief of land , drainage characteristics

Question 5

Energy in an ecosystem

Answer 5

Enters by photosynthesis this is stored in plants and passed up food chain when plant is eaten. Energy passed on when one organism eats another.

Question 6

What is biosphere

Answer 6

The living world includes oceans and lakes, anywhere that’s able to support and maintain life.

Question 7

What’s included in an EcoSYSTEM

Answer 7

Inputs
Outputs
Flows and stores

Question 8

Inputs of an ecosystem

Answer 8

Energy from the sun drives photosynthesis so plants grow

Others include animals and water from precipitation or rivers

Question 9

Outputs of an ecosystem

Answer 9

Energy or nutrients leaving an system eg animals move p, water move out in rivers, evapotranspiration, through flow,groundwater flow

Question 10

Flows of an ecosystem

Answer 10

Nutrients being transferred from one store to another eg from soil to vegetation

Question 11

Stores of an ecosystem

Answer 11

Main places nutrients are held

• in vegetation
• plant litter
• soils

Question 12

Tropic levels

Answer 12

Each stage in a food chain/web and the amount of energy in stages of an ecosystem

Question 13

Describe producers(autotrophs) role in food chains

Answer 13

Occupy first tropic level and make own food eg plants

Question 14

Describe primary consumers role in a food chain

Answer 14

In the second tropic level and eat producers can be omnivores or herbivores

Question 15

Secondary consumers role in a food chain

Answer 15

Occupy the next level (3rd?) and eat consumers mainly feeding on herbivores

Question 16

Tertiary consumer (top predator) role in food chains

Answer 16

Next trip level ( highest ones) they eat secondary consumers , can be omnivores

Question 17

What’s an omnivore

Answer 17

Animals that eat plants and animals

Question 18

Define biomass

Answer 18

The total of plant and animal life in an ecosystem

Question 19

How does biomass vary at each tropic level

Answer 19

Decreases with each tropic level

Question 20

What’s a herbivore

Answer 20

Eats plants

Question 21

What’s a carnivore

Answer 21

Eats meat

Question 22

How is energy lost in an ecosystem through tropic levels

Answer 22

Through life processes dog respiration, movement and excretion- around 90% of energy contained in each level lost
10% available for next level as food. So number of organism in an ecosystem decreases as tropic level increases

Question 23

Ways energy is lost at each level in food chain

Answer 23

Lost between sun and autotroph - not all used in photosynthesis -some on areas that don’t photosynthesise
Some parts of organism not eaten
Some lost as waste
Movements and body heat

Question 24

What’s a decomposer

Answer 24

Organisms that breaks down dead plants, animals ,and waste matter eg fungi and bacteria

Question 25

What’s a Detritivore

Answer 25

Animal that feeds on dead material or waste product

Question 26

What are nutrients

Answer 26

The chemical elements and compounds needed for organisms to grow and function

Question 27

What is soil

Answer 27

A mixture of weathered rock,air, water and decomposed organic matter on the surface of the earth

Question 28

What is litter

Answer 28

The amount of dead organic matter ontop of the soil

Question 29

In gersmehl diagrams what does the size of the compartments and arrows show

Answer 29

The amount of nutrients stored in each compartment or flowing between compartments

Question 30

The nitrogen cycle

Answer 30

Necessary for construction of plant and animal matter. Present in atmosphere and can be fixed in soil by some plants. Taken up by roots passes through ecosystem and returned to soil by decomposition

Question 31

The carbon cycle

Answer 31

Carbon dioxide is in atmosphere. Stored in ground as peat,coal,oil and gas. Also in stores in plants, animals and soil. Burning of fossil fuels and destruction of forest releases it back into atmosphere. It’s used photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates. Plants eaten by animals, released by respiration. Carbon dioxide in decaying matter and waste