Components of an Ecosystem
What are the biotic components in an ecosystem? Give examples.
all the living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as their waste and remains
What is a food chain? Create a simple example.
A food chain is a linear sequence in an ecosystem showing how energy and nutrients transfer from one living organism to another as they eat each other.grass -> rabbit -> fox
What is evolution?
the process by which populations of organisms change over time
What is selective breeding?
the process where humans choose which organisms (plants or animals) to breed based on desirable traits, leading to the development of new varieties with specific characteristics over time
What are abiotic components in an ecosystem? How do they affect life?
The non-living, physical, and chemical parts of an ecosystem that affect living organisms.Temperature directly impacts metabolic rates
How is a food web more realistic than a food chain?
It represents the interconnectedness and complexity of feeding relationships within an ecosystem
What is natural selection?
Individuals that survive and reproduce are those that are best fit for the environment.
Give an example of an animal that has been selectively bred.
Dogs are a example of an animal selectively bred by humans.
How do producers differ from consumers and decomposers?
Producers, like plants, create their own food using sunlight through photosynthesis. Consumers obtain energy by eating other organisms, while decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning essential nutrients to the environment.
What might happen if one species in a food web goes extinct?
population declines in species that rely on the extinct species for food, increased populations of species that were prey to the extinct species, and potentially further extinctions.
Give an example of an adaptation in animals
Their response. (if it's correct)
How is selective breeding different from natural selection
Selective breeding is a human-driven process where breeders choose which individuals with specific traits are allowed to reproduce, leading to the rapid development of desired traits. Natural selection, on the other hand, is a natural process driven by environmental pressures, where individuals with traits that enhance survival and reproduction in their environment are more likely to pass on those traits to future generations.
Give an example of an interaction between a biotic and an abiotic factor.
A tree growing in soil
How are scavengers different from decomposers?
Scavengers are animals that consume dead animals directly, breaking them into smaller pieces.
Decomposers are organisms like bacteria and fungi that chemically break down dead organic matter into simpler compounds, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem
What is a common ancestor?
An individual from whom multiple lines of descendants are traced
What is a disadvantage of selective breeding?
reduced genetic diversity
Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem?
They recycle nutrients back into the environment, ensuring the continued availability of essential elements for producers (like plants) to grow
What is biodiversity and why is it important?
the variety of life on Earth, encompassing all living organisms, their ecosystems, and the evolutionary processes that sustain them.
How can mutations lead to evolution?
Mutations provide the raw material for evolution by introducing genetic variation into a population
How can selective breeding help improve food production?
Plant breeding can lead to new varieties that taste great and are easier to grow