Definitions
True or False: An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
True
True or False: Consumers produce their own energy for others to eat.
False
True or False: In order for an ecosystem to be stable, it needs to meet the needs of the living things it supports.
True
What is the beginning of all food chains
The Sun!
What role is the last stop on the food chain, before it restarts?
Decomposers
What is an abiotic element and name one example
It's a non-living thing in an ecosystem. Examples include sunlight, dirt, air, water...
What is a producer?
Name one positive and one negative for pesticide use
Pro: It protects the plants from being eaten
Con: It hurts/could kill animals who eat them
a) Grass <--- Bunny
b) Grass ----> Bunny
B
What do herbivores eat?
plants
What is a biotic element and one example?
A living thing, such as human, animals, plants
What are the 3 roles of an ecosystem?
Producer, Consumer, Decomposer
What are the 3 things you need to survive?
food, water, shelter
Name an interaction that happens in an environment between an abiotic and biotic element.
There are many answers to this, however one example would be sunlight and a plant. The more sunlight that a plant gets, the more it grows.
What are the 3 R's related to protecting the environment?
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
What's an endangered species?
A plant or animal that is at risk of disappearing forever.
Why is it important to have biodiversity?
It is important to have a variety of plants and animals in an ecosystem so that it can rebuild itself. If there was only 1 type of thing, they would run out of resources.
What is primary succession and give an example.
Occurs in a lifeless area/areas where the soil can't support life or the creation of a NEW habitat. Example native grass on a sand dune or new habitat over a quarry.
What are the two types of decomposers?
Scavengers (flies) and actual decomposers (bacteria)
Name 3 of the 9 ways that humans impact on ecosystems
clear cutting, over fishing, poaching, pollution, logging, introducing native species, taking away native species, land conservation and/or pesticides.
What is an invasive species?
A living thing brought to a new habitat, often causing damage to the new environment.
Explain what would happen if part of an ecosystem disappeared, for example, no decomposers?
If no decomposers existed, there would be dead animals and plants everywhere and there would also be a lack of nutrients in the soil which could cause a lack of things to grow.
What is secondary succession and give an example.
Occurs in an area where something previously existed but has been removed. Example: Forest fire.
If a company tried to take over a forest ecosystem to build a mall, what would be some positives and negatives for this decision?
Positive: place to go shopping for people/hang out with friends, makes jobs
Negatives: Takes away resources, animals lose their homes, hurts the ecosystem