1-14 questions
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is all the living organisms in
a given area as well as the abiotic factors
with which they interact.
What are “decomposers”?
Decomposers are a class of detritivores
that cause decay by breaking down organic
compounds into simpler compounds.
Which living organisms are
considered to be “decomposers”?
bacteria and fungi.
Each trophic level can support how much living tissue in comparison to the trophic level below it?
One 10th
What percent of the water on Earth is found
in glaciers?
2%
What are the main autotrophs in
bodies of water?
The algae.
What is a Herbivore
Herbivores obtain energy by eating only
plants.
Can energy be recycled?
No
What percent of the water on Earth is found
in the oceans?
97%
What percent of the water on Earth is found
in lakes, rivers and groundwater?
1%
A few autotrophs can produce glucose in the absence of light. What is this process called?
Chemosynthesis
What are carnivores?
Carnivores obtain energy by eating only
animals.
What is a food web?
The network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem. A food web links all the food chains in an ecosystem together.
What two factors are most important in determining net primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems?
a) light
b) the availability of nutrients.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the loss of water from the
leaves of plants.
What are the green plants ?
the main autotrophs on land
What are omnivores?
Omnivores obtain energy by eating both
plants and animals.
What is the first step in every food chain?
begin with an autotroph.
What three factors are most important in determining net primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems?
a) light
b) temperature
c) amount of rainfall
What is precipitation?
returns water to the earth from the clouds.
What are the benefits of
photosynthesis?
1. It provides food for the organisms on
Earth.
2. It removes carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere.
3. It releases oxygen into the atmosphere.
What are detritivores?
Detritivores feed on plant and animal remains, animal wastes and other dead matter.
In what two ways can the productivity of an ecosystem be measured?
1.Gross primary productivity
2.Net primary productivity
What is biomass ?
a term that is used to describe the amount of organic material in an ecosystem. Producers add biomass to an ecosystem by making organic compounds.
What has contributed to the dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere over the last 40 years?
1. The burning of fossil fuels.
2. Deforestation.