science Flashcards
Q: What is the food chain using grass, mouse, snake, and hawk?
A: Grass (Producer, Trophic Level 1) → Mouse (Primary Consumer, Trophic Level 2) → Snake (Secondary Consumer, Trophic Level 3) → Hawk (Tertiary Consumer, Trophic Level 4)
Q: What role do plants play in an ecosystem?
A: Plants (Producers) convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, providing food and oxygen for other organisms.
Q: What happens if one species disappears from a food chain?
A: It disrupts the food chain; e.g., if the Mouse disappears, the Snake and Hawk populations would decline due to reduced food availability.
Q: Why are there many kinds of fish in the ocean?
A: To reduce competition for resources, adapt to different niches, and enhance ecosystem resilience.
Q: Why do most communities only have 4 or 5 trophic levels?
A: Energy transfer is inefficient (about 10% is passed on), limiting the number of higher-level consumers.
Q: Which trophic level has the largest population?
A: Producers (like plants) at Trophic Level 1, as they convert sunlight into energy to support all other levels.
Q: What are two factors affecting rabbit populations?
A: 1. Predation (e.g., increased hawk populations)
2. Food Availability (e.g., decline in grass due to drought)
Q: What could happen to ecosystems in Cambridge if development stops?
A: Ecosystems may restore, increase biodiversity, and develop new habitats over 50 years.
Q: How can indigenous cultures show respect for the land?
A: 1. Sustainable harvesting of resources
2. Preserving natural habitats
Q: Name two impacts of climate change on ecosystems.
A: 1. Shifts in species distributions
2. Increased extreme weather events
Q: How do humans impact ecosystems?
A: 1. Pollution
2. Habitat destruction (urbanization)
Q: How can carbon enter and be removed from the atmosphere?
A:
Enters: 1. Burning fossil fuels 2. Respiration
Removed: 1. Photosynthesis by plants 2. Absorption by oceans
Q: What are two ways humans impact carbon cycling?
A: 1. Deforestation reduces carbon absorption
2. Industrial emissions increase atmospheric CO2
Q: Define a trophic level.
A: A position in the food chain indicating energy transfer between organisms.
Q: What are the types of consumers in a food chain?
A:
Primary Consumer (Trophic Level 2): Herbivores (e.g., mice)
Secondary Consumer (Trophic Level 3): Carnivores (e.g., snakes)
Tertiary Consumer (Trophic Level 4): Top predators (e.g., hawks)
Q: Look at the following graph. Describe what could be happening at each letter (A, B, C). What do overshoot and carrying capacity mean?
A:
Letter A: Population begins to increase rapidly, possibly due to abundant resources.
Letter B: Population growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity (the maximum sustainable population).
Letter C: The population stabilizes at the carrying capacity but may fluctuate due to resource availability, leading to overshoot where the population temporarily exceeds carrying capacity.
Q: What is carrying capacity and overshoot in a graph? What do they mean and what is their purpose?
A:
Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support. It represents the point where the population stabilizes due to limited resources.
Overshoot: Occurs when a population temporarily exceeds its carrying capacity, often leading to resource depletion and a subsequent population decline.
Purpose: Understanding these concepts helps ecologists predict population dynamics, manage wildlife, and assess the health of ecosystems.
Q: What is a Trophic Level?
A: The position of an organism in a food chain (e.g., producer, consumer).
Q: What is the Energy Transfer Rule?
A: Only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.
Q: Define a Producer.
A: Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis (e.g., plants).
Q: What is a Consumer?
A: Organisms that eat other organisms for energy, including herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Q: What does Sustainability mean?
A: The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its processes and support diverse life over time.
Q: What is an Herbivore?
A: A consumer that primarily eats plants.
Q: Define a Carnivore.
A: A consumer that primarily eats other animals.
