Abiotic
What are nonliving parts of an ecosystem called?
Abiotic factors
What are the living parts of an ecosystem called?
Biotic factors
What is a large region with a particular climate and characteristic organisms called?
Biome
A rock is found beside a tree. Which is abiotic and which is biotic?
Rock = abiotic; tree = biotic
What process changes liquid water into water vapor?
Evaporation
Name two abiotic factors found in an ecosystem.
Examples: sunlight, water, temperature, soil, air
Name two biotic factors.
Examples: plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
Which biome is extremely cold and has permanently frozen soil called permafrost?
Tundra
What process occurs when water vapor cools and forms clouds?
Condensation
A drought causes a pond to lose most of its water. Is water an abiotic or biotic factor?
Abiotic
A deer eats grass in a meadow. Which two biotic factors are interacting?
The deer and grass
Which biome receives very little precipitation and can have large temperature changes?
Desert
Which cycle moves carbon between organisms, the atmosphere, and Earth?
Carbon cycle
How can temperature affect the organisms living in an ecosystem?
It can determine which organisms can survive and reproduce.
Why are decomposers important to an ecosystem?
They break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the environment.
Which biome has high rainfall, warm temperatures, and very high biodiversity?
Tropical rainforest
Which cycle includes processes such as nitrogen fixation and denitrification?
Nitrogen cycle
A plant receives less sunlight because of several cloudy weeks. Predict one possible effect on the plant.
Its photosynthesis and growth may decrease.
If the number of plants in an ecosystem decreases greatly, predict one effect on herbivores.
Herbivore populations may decrease because there is less food.
Two regions have different temperatures and precipitation. Explain why they may have different organisms.
Different abiotic conditions create different habitats and determine which organisms can survive.
A lake becomes warmer, loses oxygen, and fish populations decline. Explain how the abiotic change can affect the biotic community.
Warmer water can reduce available oxygen, making it harder for fish and other aquatic organisms to survive.
Explain how plants connect the carbon cycle and food
Plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store carbon in their tissues. Organisms obtain that carbon by eating plants or organisms that ate plants.