Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem includes all of the living things in a given area. All of these living things interact with each other, along with their nonliving environments.
What is a food chain?
What is a cell?
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. In fact, the human body is composed of trillions of cells. Cells provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert nutrients into energy and carry out specialized functions.
What is an organism?
Living things are often called organisms. Organisms are a living system with parts that work together to carry out the processes of life. A cell is an organism that has organelles that work together to keep the cell alive.
What are some negative impacts humans have on ecosystems and organisms?
-deforestation destroys habitats
-pollution destroys sources of fresh water
-climate change makes it hard for species to survive in their natural biomes
-overfishing erases species
-introducing invasive species accidentally destroys food chains
What is the difference between a biotic and abiotic factor? Give an example of each.
A biotic element is a living thing that shapes an ecosystem. Examples of biotic elements that can be found in ecosystems include producers, consumers and decomposers.
An abiotic element is a non-living thing. Abiotic components of an ecosystem can include water, sunlight and temperature.
What are all of the levels/tiers in a regular food chain?
How were cells discovered?
The discovery of the cell was made possible through the invention of the microscope. The cell was first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665.
Every organism can be categorized into one of five smaller groups. They are categorized based on 3 things. What are they?
-Cell type
-Their ability to make food
-The number of cells in their body
What are some positive impacts that humans have on the environment to help sustain ecosystems?
-reforestation
-using clean energy/cut back on energy usage
-protecting natural preserves and forests to maintain the natural biodiversity
-reduce unnecessary waste/recycle as much as possible
-take invasive species away
What is a decomposer? Give an example?
A decomposer is a living thing that breaks down chemicals from producers and consumers. Common examples of decomposers include fungi and bacteria.
What is ecological succession?
The process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time. There are two main types.
What are the 3 main components of the cell theory?/What does the cell theory state?
-All living things are made of cells.
-Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things.
-Living cells come only from other living cells.
What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
What does sustainability mean?
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is a producer?
A producer is a living thing that produces its own energy. The most common example of a producer is plants.
What is an invasive species?
A non-native species (migrated to that location) that does or is likely to cause harm to human, animal, or plant health.
What is a cell membrane?
A biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment.
What are the 5 groups that organisms can be categorized into?
animal, plant, fungi, protist and monera (prokaryote/bacteria)
What does ecology mean?
Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment.
What is the importance of consumers to an ecosystem? What might happen if there were no consumers in an ecosystem?
Consumers keep the population in check so that certain populations don't grow to a point where the ecosystem cannot sustain them. They also pass energy to other organisms in the food chain.
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession happens in lifeless areas or areas where the soil is not capable of sustaining life. This is a result of such factors as lava flows, newly formed sand dunes, or rocks left from a retreating glacier.
Secondary succession happens in an area where a community that previously existed has been removed. This is characterized by smaller scale disturbances that do not eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment.
What are the major differences between a plant and animal cell?
Plant vs. Animal cell
Plant- Have a cell membrane.
Animal- Have no chloroplasts.
Plant- Have cytoplasm.
Animal- Have only small vacuoles.
Plant Have a nucleus.
Animal- Often irregular in shape.
Plant- Often have chloroplasts containing chlorophyll.
Animal- Do not contain plastids.
What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular?
An organism that is made up of only one cell is called a unicellular organism.
An organism that is made up of many cells working together are called multicellular.
Why is an ecosystem limited in the number of living things it can support?
Food chains are delicate balances of organisms relying on each other for survival. If that balance is interrupted because one population grows or shrinks too much, it creates many problems and the food chain breaks.