The Living World

Question 1

Abiotic

Answer 1

Relating to non-living things

Question 2

Biotic

Answer 2

Relating to living things

Question 3

Consumer

Answer 3

Creature that eats animals or plants

Question 4

Decomposer

Answer 4

An organism such as bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue, which is the recycled to the environment

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment

Question 6

Food chain

Answer 6

The connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely on one another as their source of food

Question 7

Food web

Answer 7

The complex hierarchy of plants and animals relying on each other as their source of food

Question 8

Nutrient cycling

Answer 8

A set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil or water, before passing them on through the food chain - and ultimately back to the soil and water

Question 9

Global ecosystem

Answer 9

Very large ecological area on the earths surface (or biomes) with animal and plants adapting to their environment.

E.g. Tropical rainforest &a hot desert

Question 10

Producer

Answer 10

An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis

Question 11

Biodiversity

Answer 11

The variety of life in the world or a particular habitat

Question 12

Commercial farming

Answer 12

Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies

Question 13

Debt reduction

Answer 13

Countries are relieved of some of their debt in return for protecting their rainforest

Question 14

Deforestation

Answer 14

The chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest

Question 15

Ecotourism

Answer 15

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of local people and may involve education. It’s usually carried out in small groups and has minimal impact on the local ecosystem

Question 16

Logging

Answer 16

The business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills

Question 17

Selective logging

Answer 17

The cutting out of trees which are mature or inferior, to encourage the growth of the remaining trees in a forest

Question 18

Mineral extraction

Answer 18

The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth. These resources include ores that contain commercially valuable amounts of metals such as iron, granite, aluminium, coal and diamonds

Question 19

Soil erosion

Answer 19

Removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced, due to natural (wind & water action), animal and human activity.

Topsoil is the top layer of soil and is the most fertile because it contains the most organic, nutrient-rich materials.

Question 20

Subsistence farming

Answer 20

A type of agriculture producing food and materials for the benefit only to the farmer and his family.

Question 21

Sustainability

Answer 21

Actions and forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Question 22

Fragile environment

Answer 22

An environment that is easily disturbed and difficult to restore if disturbed.

Question 23

Permafrost

Answer 23

Permanently frozen ground, found in polar and tundra regions

Question 24

Polar

Answer 24

Regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles. These regions are dominated by earths polar ice caps

Question 25

Tundra

Answer 25

The flat treeless arctic regions of Europe,Asia and North America - where the ground is permanently frozen

Question 26

Wilderness area

Answer 26

A natural environment that has not been significantly modified by human activity. These areas are the most intact, undisturbed areas left on earth - places that humans don’t control and have not developed

Question 27

Biomass

Answer 27

Total of all living components in a ecosystem