Vocab
The ability to do work or change something
Energy
An organism that is introduced to a new ecosystem and causes harm
Invasive species
Name one type of organism that can act as a decomposer.
Fungi or bacteria
What do plants get from sunlight to make their own food?
energy
What is the place where an organism lives called?
A nonliving part of an ecosystem
Abiotic factor
An animal that hunts other animals for food
Predator
What happens to nutrients when decomposers break down dead organisms?
Nutrients are returned to the environment.
What plant structures absorb water and nutrients from the soil?
Roots
What do we call the living parts of an ecosystem?
Biotic Factors
A place where plants and animals live
Habitat
Plant like organism that gets its energy from other organisms (living or dead)
Fungi
Why are decomposers important to an ecosystem?
They break down dead matter and recycle nutrients.
What tiny openings on leaves allow gases to enter and leave?
Stomata
What do we call the nonliving parts of an ecosystem, such as rocks and sunlight?
Abiotic factors
A living thing in an ecosystem such as a plant, animal, or bacteria
Biotic factor
Animals that are eaten by other animals
Prey
What might happen to an ecosystem if there were no decomposers?
Dead matter would build up, and nutrient recycling would be disrupted.
What plant tissue carries water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant?
Xylem
What is an animal called when it hunts another animal for food?
Predator
An organism that breaks down dead plant and animal material
Decomposer
Pores in the bottom of leaves that open and close to let in air or give off water vapor
Stomata
A fallen log begins to break down as fungi grow on it. What role are the fungi playing?
Decomposers
Is sunlight a biotic or abiotic factor?
Abiotic
What is an animal called when it is hunted by another animal for food?
Prey