Living or Not?
This term describes all the non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as wind, sun, and rocks.
What are abiotic factors?
An organism that feeds on dead animals that it did not kill itself (e.g., a vulture or raven).
What is a scavenger?
What do we call an organism that makes its own food?
A producer.
What type of organism breaks down dead plants and animals?
Decomposer.
What gas do plants take in during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide.
All the populations of different species (plants, animals, bacteria) living together in the same area.
What is a community?
Organisms that cannot make their own food and must eat other organisms to survive.
What are consumers
Animals that eat only plants are called what?
Herbivores.
Mushrooms belong to what group in an ecosystem?
Decomposers (fungi).
What cycle includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation?
The water cycle.
Any living component of an ecosystem, such as a tree, a bird, or a mushroom.
What is a biotic factor?
The process by which plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar.
What is photosynthesis?
What percentage of energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next?
About 10%.
What type of consumer eats both plants and animals?
Omnivore.
What do we call the process where plants release water vapor?
Transpiration.
A single living thing, such as one specific fox or one specific bacteria.
What is an organism (or individual)?
In a food chain, this type of consumer eats a primary consumer.
What is a secondary consumer?
What is the top predator in a food web called?
An apex predator.
What happens to nutrients after decomposers break down material?
They return to the soil.
Why are cycles important to ecosystems?
They recycle essential nutrients and maintain balance.
What is the main difference between biotic and abiotic?
Biotic = Living things
Abiotic = Non-living things
The original source of almost all energy in most ecosystems on Earth.
What is the Sun?
Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web.
A food chain is a single pathway; a food web is many interconnected pathways.
Why are producers essential for all ecosystems?
They provide the base energy source (photosynthesis).
What are the clouds called in the water cycle?
Condensation!