Ecosystem Basics
What term is used for the living parts of an environment, like animals and plants?
Biotic elements
What basic need for life do plants use to create food and provide energy?
Sunlight
What is it called when two animals or plants try to use the same resource, like food or space, in an ecosystem?
Competition
The human activity that alters ecosystems to produce crops, sometimes causing harm to other species?
Farming
What is an example of a smaller ecosystem within a larger one?
Ex: A rotting log in a forest is an example of a smaller ecosystem within the larger forest ecosystem.
What do we call organisms that can only be seen with a microscope?
Microorganisms
The space where an organism lives and meets its needs for survival.
Habitat
An example of a predator-prey relationship.
What is a “green” technology that humans are developing to reduce environmental damage?
- Solar power
- Wind power
How do animals indirectly obtain energy from the Sun?
By consuming plants or other animals that have absorbed sunlight.
The process when different populations of species interact in a shared area.
A community
The necessary gas in the air that plants use to make sugars.
Carbon dioxide
The relationship where two different species benefit from interacting with each other?
Mutualism
What is the consequence of using pesticides in farming for bird populations?
It reduces food sources for birds, causing their populations to decrease.
What type of relationship occurs when a bee benefits from collecting nectar, and the flower benefits from pollination?
Mutualism
The non-living components of an environment, like sunlight and water.
Abiotic elements
How does temperature affect organisms?
Organisms have an ideal temperature range in which they can live; if the temperature is too high or too low, they may not survive.
What happens to predator populations when the prey they hunt is in low supply?
The predator population decreases.
Why did the mining of nickel in Sudbury affect plant and animal life?
Pollution from mining prevented native plants from growing, which meant animals could not survive there.
-Littering
- Bringing seeds, plant parts, and insects on their shoes/clothing
What do fish use to absorb oxygen from the water?
Gills
What is an example of competition in plants?
Two plants competing for sunlight, water, or nutrients in the soil.
How does mining impact the environment?
Mining can release toxic substances into the soil, water, and air, harming the surrounding ecosystems.