Disruptions and Energy Transfer
Ecological Succession
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
Vocabulary
Vocabulary/Task Cards
100
What term describes a sudden event that changes an ecosystem, such as a hurricane?
Natural Disaster
100
What is primary succession?
the process of ecosystem development on previously uninhabited land
100
What is biodiversity?
a variety of different species in an ecosystem
100
living factors in the environment; related to, produced by, or caused by living organisms
biotic factors
100
a process started by an event that reduces an already established ecosystem to a smaller population of species
secondary succession
200
How can a decrease in a population of primary consumers affect energy flow in a food web?
What is it decreases the energy available for higher trophic levels?
200
After a wheat field is cleared, wild grasses and weeds begin growing. This process is considered -
What is secondary succession (soil is already present).
200
How does biodiversity contribute to ecosystem stability?
it allows ecosystems to better withstand disturbances and recover from them
200
nonliving factors in the environment; physical rather than biological; do not come from living organisms
abiotic factors
200
the changing sequence of communities that live in an ecosystem during a given time period
ecological succession
300
Give an example of human intervention that can disrupt the transfer of energy in an ecosystem.
pollution, deforestation
300
How do primary and secondary succession affect species diversity?
What is they can increase diversity over time as new species colonize and establish?
300
Name one way that high biodiversity benefits human populations.
provides resources such as food, medicine, and clean air
300
first organisms to immigrate to an area
pioneer species
300
The food webs below model relationships among organisms in two ecosystems.
Students were asked to make a claim supported with evidence to answer the question, “Which ecosystem would be most sustainable if all the grasses died from severe drought?” What claim is valid and supported by the evidence?
a.The forest ecosystem is most sustainable because there are more top predators.
b.The grassland ecosystem is most sustainable because there are fewer organisms that eat grass.
c.The forest ecosystem is most sustainable because most of the animals can eat other organisms.
d.The grassland ecosystem is most sustainable because there is less competition for food.
400
How do population changes impact the availability of energy in food webs?
What is changes in population size can affect competition and predation?
400
Why is ecological succession important for an ecosystem's recovery after a disturbance?
it helps restore balance and can lead to increased biodiversity
400
Explain how a lack of biodiversity can affect an ecosystem's health.
it can lead to increased vulnerability to diseases and environmental changes
400
non-native species to an ecosystem
invasive species
400
ability to maintain ecological processes over long periods of time; ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time
sustainability
500
Explain how a natural disaster can lead to changes in the types of organisms present in an ecosystem.
What is it can create new habitats or destroy existing ones, leading to shifts in species composition?
500
In what ways can human activities disrupt natural succession processes?
through urban development or agriculture that alters natural habitats
500
Discuss how biodiversity supports the sustainability of ecosystems.
it promotes resilience and the ability to adapt to changes over time
500
a process that develops a biotic community in a previously uninhabited and barren habitat with little or no soil
primary succession
500
A food web is shown.
What is the total number of organisms that eat primary consumers?
5