Biomes
What biome has permafrost and very low biodiversity?
Tundra
What is a primary consumer?
An organism that eats producers.
What type of relationship benefits both species involved?
Mutualism
What are the two main types of aquatic ecosystems?
What are freshwater and marine ecosystems?
What is Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)?
The total amount of energy captured by producers.
Which biome has the highest net primary productivity?
The Tropical Rainforest
What direction do arrows point in a food web?
In the direction of energy flow from prey to predator.
What is the difference between parasitism and predation?
Parasites harm but don't usually kill the host and predators kill their prey
What is the photic zone in an aquatic ecosystem?
The sunlight zone where photosynthesis occurs.
How is Net Primary Productivity (NPP) calculated?
NPP = GPP - respiration by producers.
What are two characteristics of the desert biome?
Low precipitation and extreme temperatures.
What trophic level has the least energy available?
Apex consumers
What term describes two species competing for the same resource?
Interspecific competition
What is the primary producer in most aquatic food webs?
Phytoplankton
What is ecological succession?
The natural process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.
What biome is dominated by coniferous trees and has nutrient-poor soil?
Taiga or Boreal Forest.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is linear and a food web shows interconnected food chains disruption of aquatic ecosystems and fish migration.
What is commensalism?
A relationship where one benefits, and the other is unaffected.
What is one major ecosystem service provided by wetlands?
Water filtration or flood control.
What is the first species to colonize barren land in primary succession?
Pioneer species like lichens or mosses.
What factors primarily determine the distribution of biomes?
Temperature and Precipitation.
Why is energy lost at each trophic level?
Due to respiration, heat loss, and incomplete digestion.
What is resource partitioning?
Species divide resources to reduce competition and allow coexistence.
What is an estuary, and why is it important?
A coastal area where freshwater mixes with saltwater; it's highly productive and supports diverse species.
Why is NPP higher in tropical rainforests than in deserts?
More sunlight and rainfall support more plant growth.