Types of Ecosystems
What type of ecosystem is characterized by salt water and includes organisms like fish and seaweed?
ocean
What is the term for organisms that make their own food using sunlight?
producer
What do we call organisms that break down dead material?
decomposers
What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?
Biotic-living
Abiotic-non living
Give an example of parasitism.
a tick on a dog, fleas on a pet, mosquitoes feeding on humans (anything in which one animal is harming another)
Name an ecosystem that is often found at the mouth of a river where fresh and saltwater mix.
estuary
In a food chain, what role do herbivores play?
They only eat plants
Classify a rabbit as a producer, consumer, or decomposer.
consumer
Give an example of a biotic factor and an abiotic factor.
Biotic: anything that is living
Abiotic: sun, soil, temperature, water
What is mutualism?
When two animals work together and they both benefit from it.
Example: a bird eating ticks off of a giraffe. The giraffe gets rid of pests and the bird gets food!
What type of ecosystem is dominated by trees and supports a wide variety of wildlife?
tropical rainforest
Give an example of a predator in a food chain.
Any animal that hunts and eats another animal
What are the three main roles in an ecosystem?
producers, consumers, decomposers
Describe how climate can influence an ecosystem's characteristics.
It can influence the type of plants that grow there and the animals that live there.
How do plants and animals depend on each other for survival?
Animals rely on plants and other animals for food. Plants rely on animals to help spread their seeds in order to grow new plants.
Which ecosystem is known for its grasses and few trees, often found in areas with low rainfall?
grasslands
Explain what happens to energy as it moves up the food chain.
The amount of energy that gets passed from one organism to another gets smaller and smaller.
How would you classify trees in an ecosystem?
producers
What role does soil play in an ecosystem?
Soil is where plants grow. If the soil is healthy, more plants can grow. But if the soil is too sandy and rocky, plants can't grow.
What is competition in an ecosystem?
Animals competing for food, shelter, water etc.
What are the main characteristics of a desert ecosystem?
hot, dry, less than 10 inches of rain per year
What is a food web, and how does it differ from a food chain?
A food web is many food chains interconnected with each other.
Give an example of a decomposer
mushroom, bacteria, earthworm, etc
How can human activities impact the balance of an ecosystem?
Humans can ruin habitats by building towns and cities.
Describe how the owl population will be affected if the mouse population decreases.
Owls will not have enough food to survive and will either die out or have to move to another place.