Terms
What does abiotic mean? Give an example.
Nonliving things in an ecosystem.
Ex: sunlight, water, soil, rocks, temperature
What is a producer and where is it on the pyramid?
Bottom level of the pyramid. A producer makes it own food.
Ex: plant
What are the 3 ingredients needed for photosynthesis to occur?
Water, sunlight, and CO2
Describe the 4 different roles plants have in an ecosystem.
Photosynthesis
Water Filtration
Reducing Soil Erosion
Food and Shelter for animals
Name the 6 different Ecosystems we explored.
Desert, Arctic, Forest, Wetland, Grassland, Freshwater
What does biotic mean?
Living things in an ecosystem.
Ex: animals, plants, bacteria
What is a consumer? What are the different levels of consumers called?
Primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumers
A consumer needs to eat plants and animals to get energy
What does a plant release when it goes through this process?
Glucose and oxygen
Name 2 ways that humans use plants.
For: oxygen, food, recreation, medicine, soil improvement, increase in biodiversity, wood/building
Name the 4 characteristics of an ecosystem.
Climate, Geographic Location, Plants, and Animals
What is the difference between a biome and an ecosystem?
Biomes - large geographic areas with similar landscapes, weather, plants, and animals. Made up of many ecosystems
Ecosystem - living and nonliving things that interact with each other
What is a decomposer?
Decomposers break down materials to get energy.
Ex: Bacteria, invertebrates, and fungi
What is the oxygen cycle?
The cycle of plants and animals 'breathing' or the movement of oxygen throughout an ecosystem
Name 2 plants that Indigenous groups use and explain how they use them.
Sage - medicine to drive away negative energies
Sweetgrass - spiritual cleansing, honoring the interconnection between mind, body and spirit
Cedar - purification and to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions, and balance. For vitamin C
Tobacco - the first gift given to them by their Creator, they use it as a gift to others
What are Forests referred to when we think of their role with greenhouse gases?
The Green Lungs
What does Ecology mean?
The study of relations of organisms to each other and their physical surroundings.
How does energy move through the pyramid?
The most energy is at the producer level because they get energy directly from the sun. The energy decreases through each level.
What are chloroplasts and chlorophyll?
Chloroplasts - tiny parts in plants where photosynthesis happens
Chlorophyll - makes plants green and it catches the sunlight used for photosynthesis
Name 2 technologies that are used to help ecosystems.
Radio tracking collars
Drones
Time-lapse photography
Describe the characteristics of a Desert Ecosystem
Climate: hot, dry
Location: Africa, USA
Plants: Cacti, shrubs
Animals: Lizards, snakes, and camels
What is a Carbon Sink? Give one example.
A carbon sink is a part of nature that is able to absorb greenhouse gases from the air.
Ex: Wetlands and Oceans
What would happen if all of the producers in an ecosystem suddenly died?
It would impact every other level of the pyramid.
How is glucose stored in a plant? Or how do we know that photosynthesis has happened?
The plant stores glucose as starch. You can conduct experiments to see if the plant has made starch.
Why is it important to use technology to track endangered species?
They can help monitor the species and gather detailed information about the ecosystems
Describe the characteristics of a Freshwater Ecosystem.
Climate: Varies by region, often mild
Location: Lakes, rivers, ponds around the world
Plants: Algae, water lilies, pondweed
Animals: Fish, frogs, beavers