Generation Genious Ecosystems Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, definitions, and facts about ecosystems, invasive species, and environmental balance.

Ecosystem

A community of interacting organisms and their environment, where living things interact with each other and with non-living things like soil, water, and air.

Botanist

A scientist that studies plants.

Nectar

A sweet, sugary liquid made inside flowers that insects and hummingbirds feed on.

Rainforest

An area densely packed with lots of different kinds of plants, tall trees, and animals that receives about 100 inches of rain per year, covers 6% of Earth, and produces about 40% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Invasive species

Living things not naturally found in an ecosystem that usually cause damage or throw off the balance of the natural ecosystem.

Living Things

Anything living, such as an animal, plant, insect, bacteria, etc.

Ecosphere

A mini, completely balanced ecosystem on a desk that requires only sunlight, containing algae and shrimp that make food for each other alongside bacteria.

Wild pigs

An invasive species introduced to the United States centuries ago that eats turkey eggs and other animals, lacks natural predators, and causes billions of dollars of crop damage each year.

Human disruptions to ecosystems

Unbalancing actions caused by humans, including pollution, deforestation, land development, removing too many resources like water, and overusing fertilizer or pesticides.

Outcomes for animals facing invasive species

The three possible things that happen to existing animals when an invasive species is introduced: (1) adapt and stay, (2) die, or (3) move somewhere else to find a new home.

Ecosystem

A community of interacting living organisms and their non-living environment.

Biotic factor in a forest ecosystem

An example is an oak tree.

Abiotic factor in an ecosystem

Temperature is an example of a non-living component.

Survival needs of organisms in an ecosystem

All essential needs (food, water, shelter, air) must be met for survival.

Size of ecosystems

Ecosystems range in size from tiny puddles to whole oceans.

Characteristic of a healthy ecosystem

A healthy ecosystem contains a wide variety of different organisms living in balance.

Impact of invasive species

New non-native organisms can throw off the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Importance of sunlight in an enclosed ecosphere

Without sunlight, algae cannot produce food and oxygen, leading to shrimp dying.

Interactions in a rainforest ecosystem

Plants provide food and shelter, while animals help pollinate flowers and spread seeds.

Human impact on ecosystems

Humans can negatively affect ecosystems through pollution and positively affect them through conservation.