Exploring Ecosystems
What is the term for a network of interactions among living organisms and their environment?
An ecosystem
What do we call the way all parts of an ecosystem rely on one another?
Interconnectedness
Name 1 Greenhouse Gas
Co2, Methane
What does biodiversity mean?
The variety of living things in an area
What makes marine ecosystems different from freshwater ones?
Marine ecosystems have saltwater
What are the living parts of an ecosystem called?
Biotic Factors
Give one direct connection between plants and animals.
Animals eat plants for food
Why do larger ecosystems support more biodiversity?
They offer more space and resources
Why do deserts have low biodiversity?
Harsh dry conditions
Name the top layer of the ocean where most plants and animals live.
Sunlight Zone (Euphotic Zone)
Name one biotic and one abiotic factor.
Tree (biotic), Sunlight (abiotic)
Why are decomposers important for soil health?
They recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals
What factor most influences which plants and animals live in an area?
Climate
Where on Earth is biodiversity highest and why?
Near the equator — mild, steady climate
What do we call the special place where freshwater and saltwater mix?
An estuary.
Why can overpopulation harm an ecosystem?
It exceeds carrying capacity → not enough food, water, or space
How are decomposers different from detritivores?
Decomposers use enzymes to break materials down; detritivores eat dead matter
How do wetlands and oceans help reduce greenhouse gases?
Wetlands store CO₂ in soil and plants; oceans absorb CO₂ via phytoplankton
Why does Canada have lower biodiversity than tropical areas?
Cold climates and seasonal changes make survival harder
Why are marine ecosystems often called the “lungs of the Earth”?
Because they produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
Explain how living and non-living parts depend on each other.
Biotic things need abiotic resources (sunlight, water, soil), and their activities affect those resources
How does the Sun indirectly affect animals?
It changes temperature and plant growth, affecting animal habitats
Compare how forests and grasslands store carbon.
Forests store it in trees and soil; grasslands in deep roots
What can happen if humans remove a species like snakes from an ecosystem?
Rat populations increase, throwing the balance off
Why is water temperature an important abiotic factor in freshwater ecosystems?
It affects which plants and animals can survive there.