Abiotic/Biotic
What are non-living components of an ecosystem called?
Abiotic factors
What is the smallest unit of ecology that includes members of the same species?
Population
What biome is characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures with large amounts of sunlight?
Desert
What type of symbiotic relationship benefits one organism and harms another?
Parasitism
What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?
The Sun
Name a biotic factor that affects the population of deer in a forest.
Predators
What do we call a group of different populations in a specific area?
Community
Which biome is home to many coniferous trees?
Taiga or Boreal Forest
In a mutualistic relationship, how do both organisms benefit?
Both gain something advantageous, like food or protection.
What are producers in an ecosystem?
Organisms that create their own food, usually through photosynthesis (e.g., plants).
What is the term for living organisms in an ecosystem?
Biotic factors
Name the first level of ecology that includes both biotic and abiotic factors in a specific area.
Ecosystem
What type of biome is typically found near the equator and has high biodiversity?
Tropical Rainforest
What is the term for a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed?
Commensalism
What do we call organisms that consume producers?
Primary consumers (herbivores)
Give an example of how temperature can affect an ecosystem.
It influences the types of species that can survive there.
What is the highest level of ecological organization called?
Biosphere
Name a biome that experiences distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters.
Temperate Forest
Give an example of mutualism in nature.
Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar.
Describe the role of decomposers in an ecosystem.
Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Describe how water availability impacts plant growth.
Plants need water for photosynthesis; limited water can lead to wilting or death.
Describe the difference between an ecosystem and a biome.
An ecosystem is a community and its environment, while a biome is a large area characterized by specific climate and vegetation.
What biome has few trees and is found in regions with soil capable of producing crops?
Grassland
Describe a scenario involving parasitism.
A tick feeding on a dog’s blood.
What is a food chain?
A linear sequence showing how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another.