Reproduction
What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction involves two parents and genetic variation; asexual reproduction involves one parent and produces genetically identical offspring.
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.
What role do gametes play in reproduction?
Gametes (sperm and egg) carry half the genetic information and fuse during fertilization to form a new organism.
Define producers and consumers.
Producers make their own food (usually through photosynthesis), while consumers eat other organisms for energy.
Describe the process of fertilization.
Fertilization is the union of a sperm and egg cell to form a zygote.
What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
Decomposers break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the environment.
Name one organism that reproduces asexually and one that reproduces sexually.
A hydra reproduces asexually by budding, and a human reproduces sexually. (answers will vary)
How do food chains and food webs differ?
A food chain shows a single path of energy flow, while a food web shows multiple interconnected paths.
Which type of reproduction is more likely to result in variation among offspring: sexual or asexual? Explain why.
Sexual reproduction is more likely to result in variation among offspring because it combines genetic material from two parents, leading to different combinations of genes.
Explain the impact of invasive species on ecosystems.
Invasive species can outcompete native species, disrupt food chains, and alter ecosystem balance.