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Ecosystem Basics
Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
Relationships
Mystery Questions
100
What is an ecosystem?
A community of plants, animals, and smaller organisms that interact with each other and with non-living factors in the environment around them.
100
What is the definition of an abiotic factor?
A non-living factor in an ecosystem.
100
What is the definition of a biotic factor?
A living thing in an ecosystem.
100

What is mutualism? 

Give an example.

When two species both benefit. Examples will vary

100
True or False: Abiotic and biotic factors do not interact with each other at all in an ecosystem?
False -- Abiotic and biotic factors interact with each other in many different ways. For example, soil is abiotic and moles are biotic, but moles DO interact with soil by using it as a habitat.
200
What are the 2 main TYPES of factors in an ecosystem?
Abiotic and biotic
200
Name 3 examples of abiotic factors in a forest ecosystem.
Possible answers: soil, sun, water, temperature, climate, wind, rocks.
200
What are 3 examples of biotic factors in a forest ecosystem?
Possible answers: trees, nuts/seeds, flowers, worms, insects, rodents, small birds, owls, bears.
200

What is commensalism? 

Give an example

When one species benefits and the other is not impacted in any way. Examples will vary

200
How can you ensure that you get the best grade possible on the test tomorrow?
Make sure that you study the study guide very thoroughly by: 1. covering up the answers 2. trying to answer the question 3. then looking at the answer on the study guide to see if you were right.
300
In an ecosystem, different abiotic and biotic factors have different ________________________ with one another.
Relationships
300

Every food chain and food web begins with energy that comes from what abiotic factor?

The sun.

300
Besides animals, what else qualifies as "biotic" factors?
Plants and smaller organisms (i.e. fungi and bacteria).
300

What is parasitism? Give an example

When one species benefits and the other is harmed. Examples will vary

300

What do air, sunlight, rocks, and soil all have in common?

They are all abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

400
Name a particular type of ecosystem.
Possible answers: forest, rain forest, aquatic, grasslands, desert.
400
Name one abiotic factor an mouse might interact with and explain how.
Possible answer: An mouse relies on water in an ecosystem to hydrate and survive.
400
What is one way of knowing that a factor is biotic?
Possible answers: It requires energy to survive. It grows. It reproduces. It reacts to its environment.
400

In parasitism, what is a parasite (definition)?

The organism that lives on or in another organism, and benefits in some way while the other organism is harmed in some way.

400

What do fungi, grass, worms, squirrels, and owls all have in common?

They are all BIOTIC factors!

500
In any given ecosystem, there is a complex order in which certain factors obtain energy from others factors, which obtain energy from yet OTHER factors. What is this complex order called?
Food web.
500
Why is soil an important abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
1. It serves as a habitat to insects and animals. 2. It absorbs and holds water for plants to use for nutrients. 3. It provides humus, which is nutrients for plants to grow.
500
How can you be sure that grass is a biotic factor?
Possible answers: It can grow. It requires energy to survive (i.e. it uses light energy from the sun to produce its own source of energy).
500

In parasitism, what is the host (definition)?

The host is the organism that is being harmed by the parasite.

500
Explain what would happen to the soil, plant life, and at least one animal in the forest ecosystem if there were no rainfall in the ecosystem.
The soil would dry up and harden. Plant life would decrease because plants can no longer take in water from the soil. The rodent population would decrease because there would be less berries, seeds, and nuts for them to eat a a source of energy (since berries, seeds, and nuts grow on plants).