Ecosystem Basics
What is an ecosystem?
A community of living (biotic) and non-living factors that interact with each in the environment around them.
What is the definition of an abiotic factor?
A non-living factor in an ecosystem.
What is the definition of a biotic factor?
Any living thing in an ecosystem.
What is mutualism?
Give an example.
When two species both benefit. Examples will vary
True or False: Abiotic and biotic factors do not interact with each other at all in an ecosystem?
False -- Abiotic and biotic factors interact with each other in many different ways.
What are the 2 main TYPES(Categories) of factors found in any ecosystem?
Abiotic and biotic
Name 3 examples of abiotic factors found in an ecosystem.
Possible answers: soil, sun, water, temperature, climate, wind, rocks etc.
What are 3 examples of biotic factors in a forest ecosystem?
Possible answers: trees, nuts/seeds, flowers, worms, insects, rodents, small birds, owls, bears.
What is commensalism?
Give an example
When one species benefits and the other is not impacted in any way. Examples will vary
What is an organism?
any living thing in an ecosystem that requires food, water, shelter, and space to survive.
What is an invasive species and give an example of one?
An organism that does not belong, was introduced purposely or accidentally and causes harm to the ecosystem in some way.
Every food chain and food web starts with energy that comes from what abiotic factor?
The sun.
Besides animals, what else qualifies as a "biotic" factor?
Plants and smaller organisms (i.e. fungi and bacteria).
What is parasitism? Give an example
When one species benefits and the other is harmed. Examples will vary
What are native species and why are they important?
They are species, plants or animals, that belong in an ecosystem. They provide food, shelter for other native species because most native species will not use non-native resources.
What is biodiversity? Why is it important?
Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world.
Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat
Name one biotic factor and one abiotic factor and explain the interaction between them in their natural environment.
Possible answer: Varies
What is one way of knowing that a factor is biotic?
Possible answers: It requires energy to survive. It grows. It reproduces. It reacts to its environment.
In parasitism, what is a parasite (definition)?
The organism that lives on or in another organism, causes harm and benefits in some way.
What is a producer? Describe what is uses to do that.
An organism that makes its own food.
Water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide.
In any ecosystem, there is a complex order in which certain biotic factors obtain energy from other biotic or abiotic factors. What is this complex system called?
A Food web.
Why is soil an important abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
1. It serves as a habitat to insects and animals. 2. It absorbs and holds water for plants to use for nutrients. EXAMPLES
How can you be sure that grass is a biotic factor?
Possible answers: It can grow. It requires energy to survive (i.e. it uses light energy from the sun to produce its own source of energy).
In parasitism, what is the host (definition)?
The host is the organism that is being harmed by the parasite.
Explain what would happen to the soil, plant life, and animals in the forest ecosystem if there were no rainfall.
The soil would dry up and harden. Plant life would decrease because plants can no longer take in water from the soil. The primary consumers would start to die off. Next secondary consumers would die off etc.