Ecosystem Basics
If rainfall increases, which population is MOST likely to increase first?
plants or producers
What happens to energy as it moves up a food chain?
It decreases
Why can’t populations grow forever?
limited resources
Why is rainfall considered an abiotic factor?
its nonliving
Which organisms are most likely to survive when predators increase?
those with favored traits or protective traits
Why do herbivore populations usually change AFTER plant populations change?
Herbivores depend on plants for food
If producers are removed from a food web, what happens to consumers?
Their populations decrease
What usually causes a population to stop increasing?
Carrying Capacity
How does decreased rainfall affect animals indirectly?
it reduces plant food sources
Why don’t all organisms survive environmental changes?
Not all have helpful traits
Two animals eating the same food source will most likely —
compete
Why is the sun essential to most food webs?
It provides the original energy source
Why does a population sometimes decrease after growing too fast?
Resources decrease
Why does climate change cause habitat loss?
Rising temperatures and weather extremes change environments
What happens to helpful traits over many generations?
They become more common or favored
If an invasive plant spreads quickly, what happens to native plants?
Native plants decrease due to competition
If small fish decrease, which organism is MOST affected next?
Large fish
Which change would most likely cause population decline: more food or more predators?
more predators
Which organisms are affected first by environmental changes?
Producers or plants
Why does natural selection happen over time, not instantly?
It occurs across generations
Why are ecosystems with many species usually more stable?
They have more food and energy options
Why does a food web recover better than a food chain after change?
It has multiple feeding relationships
Why does increased competition reduce population growth?
decrease in food per organsim
Why do environmental changes impact entire ecosystems, not just one species?
All organisms are connected
Why might bright colors reduce survival in prey species?
Predators can spot them easily