Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
The interaction between living and non-living things in an environment
What role do spines serve in seastars?
Only for protection
What are producers in a food web?
Organisms that make their own food
How do predators affect an ecosystem?
They help control population sizes
What intertidal zone is least diverse?
The splash zone
What is the primary role of filter feeders in marine ecosystems?
They strain small particles of food from water
How do tube feet help sea stars survive?
They help with movement and obtaining food
In a parasite-host relationship, what typically happens?
The parasite benefits while the host is harmed
How do filter feeders impact water quality?
They help clean water by removing particles
During which tide would marine organisms near the shore experience the most environmental stress?
Low tide.
Which of the following best describes the intertidal zone?
a. The deepest part of the ocean
b. The area that is covered by water at high tide and exposed at low tide
c. A permanently submerged area of the ocean
What is b?
What is the water vascular system?
A specialized system in echinoderms for movement and feeding
What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
c. nutrients
What is the main challenge organisms face in the intertidal zone?
Adapting to both wet and dry conditions
What is the primary cause of tidal bulge on Earth?
Gravitational pull between Earth and Moon
What is a population in ecological terms?
All organisms of the same species in an area
What is the primary function of tube feet in sea stars?
Locomotion and attachment
What is a food web?
Multiple interconnected food chains
What is ecology?
The study of relationships between organisms and their environment
What abiotic factor would most directly affect an organism's risk of desiccation?
Sunlight and humidity
Which statement best describes competition in an ecosystem?
a. Two species helping each other
b. Two species fighting for the same resources
c. One species eating another
What is b?
Seastars reproduce asexually through what process?
Fragmentation
What type of consumer is a sea star typically?
A secondary consumer.
What happens when a population grows too large?
Resources become limited
What process best describes how warm air rises and cold air sinks?
Convection.