Ecological Relationships
What is an apex predator?
A species that has no predator. They are the top of the food web in that ecosystem.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows one energy pathway in an ecosystem. A food web shows all the energy pathways within an ecosystem
What is a drought?
An abnormal period of prolonged low rainfall
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?
abiotic = non-living
biotic = living
T or F:
Commensalism is when both species benefit from the relationship
False (mutualism is when both species benefit)
What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph?
An autotroph produces its own food, whereas a heterotroph sources its food from other organisms
Name 3 plant adaptations to drought
spikes/spines
fleshy leaves/body
small, narrow leaves
multiple leaves
vertical hanging leaves
waxy coating
hairy leaves
What is the difference between a population and a community?
A population is one species, a community is many interacting species
What are 3 resources that a species could be in competition for
Food, shelter, mates
A food chain consists of the following organsims:
krill, orca, phytoplankton, silverfish
Label each trophic level.
phytoplankton - primary producer
krill - primary consumer
silverfish - secondary consumer
orca - tertiary consumer
What word is used to descibe the patterns of change in an ecosystem after a bushfire has occured
Succession
what is the term given to an area that's classified by the species that live in that location?
a biome
What are the 3 types of symbiosis?
commensalism, parasitism, mutualism
If a producer produced 5000 Joules of energy, how much energy would be available to the secondary consumer in the food chain?
1% of 5000 = 50 Joules
Eucalypts have adaptations that help them survive bushfires and also encourages the fires to spread.
How would encouraging fires to spread help eucalypts thrive in the area?
Encouraging the fires to spread removes competing plants, so eucalypts can regrow quicker and become dominant in the area
What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?
reactants = carbon dioxide, water & sunlight
products = glucose and oxygen