Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
All the things, living and non-living, in an environment that interact with each other.
What is a biome?
a large area characterized by its vegetation, animals, and climate
What is the start to every food chain?
What are producers?
Organisms that make their own food, usually through photosynthesis.
What does biotic mean?
Living or once living things.
Name two types of ecosystems
terrestrial and aquatic
Name a terrestrial biome.
tundra, desert, rainforest, or grassland
What is a primary consumer?
An herbivore that eats producers.
Name an example of a consumer.
Any animal, such as a lion or rabbit.
Define abiotic factors.
Non-living environmental factors such as water, sunlight, and soil.
What is a micro ecosystem?
A very small ecosystem, such as a puddle or an area under a rock.
What defines aquatic biomes?
aquatic biomes are defined by the water type, such as freshwater or marine.
Define the term "carnivore."
An animal that eats other animals.
What is the difference between herbivores and carnivores?
Herbivores eat plants, while carnivores eat other animals.
Give an example of a biotic component in an ecosystem.
Plants or animals.
How do ecosystems benefit from biodiversity?
Biodiversity helps maintain balance and resilience in ecosystems.
Compare terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
Terrestrial biomes are land-based, while aquatic biomes are water-based.
What role do decomposers play in food chains?
They break down dead matter and return nutrients to the soil.
How do omnivores fit into the food chain?
Omnivores eat both plants and animals.
How do biotic and abiotic factors interact in an ecosystem?
Biotic factors depend on abiotic factors for survival, such as needing water and sunlight.
What can cause an ecosystem to become damaged or destroyed?
natural disasters, pollution, and human activities.
What is the largest biome on Earth?
The oceanic biome.
Explain how energy flows through a food chain.
Energy is passed from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and so on.
Why are decomposers crucial in ecosystems?
They recycle nutrients back into the soil, maintaining ecosystem health.
What impact can human activity have on biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Human activities can lead to pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change, affecting both biotic and abiotic components.