Topic 10.2 Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a life supporting environment. It includes all of the organisms living in a particular area known as a community, as well as the non-living elements of that particular environment.

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

All life supporting environments on the earths surface.

Question 3

Biome

Answer 3

Major ecosystems eg. tundra, forest, grassland

Question 4

Habitat

Answer 4

Eg. tropical rainforest, coniferous forest

Question 5

Microhabitats

Answer 5

Eg. under a log

Question 6

Trophic levels

Answer 6

Each level of the food chain is called a trophic level.

Question 7

Trophic levels: Producer

Answer 7

Makes their own food by photosynthesis eg. plants, algae (autotroph).

Question 8

Trophic levels: Primary consumer

Answer 8

Eats the plants eg. animals (heterotrophs, herbivore)

Question 9

Trophic levels: Secondary consumer

Answer 9

Carnivore

Question 10

Trophic levels: Tertiary consumer

Answer 10

Predator, top carnivore

Question 11

Trophic levels: Decomposers

Answer 11

Include bacteria ad fungi who break down the dead plants and animals urine and faeces.

Question 12

Energy loss

Answer 12

-Energy loss is lost at trophic level
-Not all the animal can be eaten eg. fur, bones
-Not all of the nutrients can be digested eg. cellulose in humans
-Energy is lost by heat from movement
-Energy is lost from movement
-Energy is lost in focus and urine

Question 13

Ecological pyramids: Pyramid of numbers

Answer 13

The number of organisms in each trophic level.

Question 14

Ecological pyramids: Pyramid of biomass

Answer 14

Compares the mass of biological material at each trophic level.

Question 15

Ecological pyramids: Pyramid of energy

Answer 15

Compares the amount of energy passing through each trophic level over a period of time.

Question 16

Gross primary productivity (GPP)

Answer 16

Rate at which plants capture sunlight to produce new plant material.

Question 17

Net primary productivity (NPP)

Answer 17

Energy transferred into biomass, available to the next trophic level.
NPP = GPP - R (respiration)
Units: KJ m^-2 year^-1 (energy per area^2 per time)

Question 18

Energy transfer (%)

Answer 18

NPP/GPP x 100

Question 19

What impacts NPP?

Answer 19

All of the abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem.
-Water within an ecosystem
-Latitude (think light availability)
-Plant density
-Plants that lose leaves