Photosynthesis
What do plants absorb from sunlight to make food?
Energy
What does "biotic" mean?
Living or once-living things
What is a food web?
A food web shows how animals and plants are connected by what they eat.
What is energy flow in an ecosystem?
Energy flow is how energy moves from the Sun to plants and then to animals through eating.
What is a nutrient cycle?
A nutrient cycle is how important elements like carbon, nitrogen, and water move through the environment and living things.
Which gas do plants take in for photosynthesis?
Carbon Dioxide
What does "abiotic" mean?
Non-living things
What are the three main types of organisms in a food web?
Producers (plants that make food), consumers (animals that eat plants or other animals), and decomposers (bacteria and fungi that break down dead things).
How does energy move in a food chain?
Energy moves from the Sun to plants (producers), then to herbivores (primary consumers), and then to carnivores (secondary and tertiary consumers).
Why are nutrient cycles important?
They help recycle nutrients so plants, animals, and humans can keep using them.
Where in the plant cell does photosynthesis happen?
Chloroplast
How do abiotic factors like sunlight and water affect biotic factors?
They help living things grow, survive, and reproduce.
Why are decomposers important?
They break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil
Why does energy decrease as it moves up the food chain?
Some energy is lost as heat and used for movement and growth at each level.
What are the main types of nutrient cycles?
The water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and phosphorus cycle.
What is the main product of photosynthesis that gives plants energy?
Glucose (Sugar)
What happens to an ecosystem if a key abiotic factor (like water) is removed?
Living organisms struggle to survive, and the ecosystem may collapse.
What happens if one species disappears?
It can affect the whole food web, causing some animals to struggle or even die out.
What is the role of decomposers in energy flow?
Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil for plants to use.
How do plants get nitrogen if they can’t take it from the air?
Bacteria in the soil change nitrogen into a form that plants can use.
What gas do plants release as a result of photosynthesis?
Oxygen
Is a dead tree considered biotic or abiotic?
Biotic (because it was once living).
What is the main source of energy in a food web?
The Sun is the main source of energy, providing light for plants to make food.
Why can’t energy be recycled like nutrients?
Energy is lost as heat at each step, so new energy from the Sun is always needed to keep the ecosystem going.
What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycles?
Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil for new plants to use.