Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
a community of non-living and living things interacting
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms is called a...
consumer
What do we call nonliving parts of an ecosystem?
Abiotic factors
A chimpanzee eats fruits, nuts, leaves, and small mammals. What kind of organism is a chimpanzee?
omnivore
What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?
Gravity
What do we call a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area?
A population.
What do we call a series of events where one organism eats another to obtain energy?
A food chain
What do we call living parts of an ecosystem?
Biotic factors
What is the purpose of classifying living things in biology?
To organise them into groups based on shared characteristics.
During which phase of the Moon can a lunar eclipse occur?
Full moon
A consumer that eats only other organisms is called a
carnivore
In a food chain, what does the direction of the arrows represent?
The arrows show the flow of energy from one organism to the next — from the food to the eater.
What is an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Sunlight
Temperature
Water
Air (oxygen, carbon dioxide)
Soil
Rocks
& more
Why are scientific names (binomial names) used instead of common names?
Because they are universal and help avoid confusion caused by local names.
What is the difference between a natural satellite and an artificial satellite?
A natural satellite is a celestial body like the Moon that orbits a planet, while an artificial satellite is a man-made object launched into orbit for communication, navigation, or research.
If a prey species becomes extinct, what else is most likely to happen?
The predators that eat the prey may be threatened.
How would removing a primary consumer affect the rest of a food web?
It could cause producers to overgrow and higher-level consumers to decline due to lack of food, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
How do biotic factors interact with abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Biotic factors depend on abiotic factors for survival, such as plants needing sunlight and water.
How can two organisms be in the same class but different species?
They share broader traits (like being mammals) but have different specific features and cannot reproduce together.
What must be the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon for a lunar eclipse to occur?
Sun → Earth → Moon.
Why might introducing a non-native species into an ecosystem cause problems?
Non-native species can outcompete native species for resources, disrupt food chains, and lead to declines in biodiversity.
Explain why decomposers are essential in a food web, even though they are not shown in most diagrams.
Decomposers break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil, which producers need to grow and start the food chain again.
Which change in an abiotic factor could directly decrease the population of fish in a lake?
A decrease in oxygen levels in the water
Increase in water temperature
Pollution or contamination of the water
A significant change in pH (becoming too acidic or basic)
Reduced sunlight due to turbidity or algal blooms
A drastic drop in water levels due to drought
What is the correct order of classification from largest to smallest?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
What happens to your weight on the Moon where gravity is weaker?
Your weight decreases.