Week 4: Ecosystems

Question 1

What are ecosystems defined by?

Answer 1

• abiotic and biotic factors + interactions between elements of these components

Question 2

Why are all biotic components of an ecosystem interconnected?

Answer 2

they rely on others to sustain its source of matter and energy + interact with abioitc factors present

Question 3

Producers (e.g plants)

Answer 3

autotrophs that convert inorganic material to organic with sunlight or chemical energy

Question 4

Consumers (e.g animals)

Answer 4

heterotrophs that obtain organic material and energy by consuming other living things

Question 5

Decomposer (e.g bacteria)

Answer 5

heterotrophs that break down dead or decaying organisms

Question 6

Competitors/pathogens

Answer 6

organisms that compete for same resources/ infect an organism preventing their ability to reproduce and survive

Question 7

Sunlight purpose

Answer 7

so producers can generate organic materials and energy

Question 8

Water purpose

Answer 8

producers can use in photosynthesis

and producers, consumers and decomposers obtain water from environment to carry out life processes

Question 9

Atmospheric and dissolved gases purpose

Answer 9

producers obtain CO2 from environment for photosynthesis

producers and consumers obtain energy from environment for respiration

Question 10

Fire

Answer 10

Fires can alter the ecosystem; benefiting some species while disadvantaging others.

Question 11

Temperature purpose

Answer 11

producers consumers changing behaviour in response to changes in the temperature (air, water, or soil) of their environment
body temperature type of an organism can determine the environments in which it can survive.

Question 12

Soil

Answer 12

Most producers obtain water and nutrients from soils to sustain life processes including photosynthesis.

Question 13

Zonation

Answer 13

spatial change in the distribution of species.

Question 14

Species rarely leave their habitat unless

Answer 14

environmental conditions change

Question 15

Zonation occurs more frequently in locations where

Answer 15

environmental conditions vary greatly over short distances.

Question 16

Air temperature decreases with

Answer 16

altitude and fewer organisms survive near the apex.

Question 17

Humidity decreases with

Answer 17

altitude so less rain near the apex.

Question 18

Soils near the base of the mountain are

Answer 18

richer and facilitate more plant growth.

Question 19

Oxygen depletion

Answer 19

oxygen levels vary (lower in sea water), but risk drying out if above water line to obtain O2

Question 20

Water movement along the coast creates

Answer 20

multiple zones.

Question 21

Water presence varies depending on

Answer 21

tides and swell as some areas dry out while others remain submerged.

Question 22

Light intensity decreases as water depth

Answer 22

increases and fewer plants are able to survive further into the ocean.

Question 23

Waves can _____ different areas

Answer 23

‘pound’ - the force can kill softer-bodied organisms.

Question 24

Organisms establish habitats in each different strata, this reduces _______

Answer 24

competition

Question 25

Stratification

Answer 25

used to describe the composition and arrangement of the vertical layers (strata) of a community.

Question 26

Vegetation can be classified into strata by their

Answer 26

different layers.

Question 27

Each different strata is a vertical section of the

Answer 27

vegetation zone of the ecosystem.