Ecosystems

What is an ecosystem?

A group of living things and their environment.

Can you give examples of ecosystems?

A forest and a dead tree stump.

What are abiotic factors?

The nonliving parts of ecosystems such as air, sunlight, soil, water, and minerals.

What are biotic factors?

The living parts of ecosystems, including species of living organisms.

What is a species?

A unique type of organism that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

What is a niche?

The particular way a species makes a living.

What is a habitat?

The specific place where a species is best suited to live.

What are producers?

Living things that use energy to make food.

What is photosynthesis?

The process by which producers use sunlight to make food.

What is chemosynthesis?

The process by which certain producers use chemicals instead of sunlight to make food.

What are consumers?

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must eat producers or other consumers.

What are the three main types of consumers?

Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

What is a predator?

An organism that captures and kills other organisms for food.

What is prey?

The animals that are eaten by predators.

What is a scavenger?

An organism that eats dead animals.

What are decomposers?

Organisms that break down dead organisms and waste to recycle nutrients.

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

Energy flows from producers to consumers through food chains and food webs.

What is a food chain?

A simple diagram that shows one way energy flows through an ecosystem.

How much energy is typically passed to the next level in a food chain?

About 10 percent of the energy.

What is a food web?

A complex diagram showing all the ways energy flows through an ecosystem, consisting of many overlapping food chains.

What are nutrients?

Nonliving matter that living things need to build bodies and carry out life processes.

How does matter move through ecosystems?

Matter is recycled and moves from producers to consumers and back to the environment.

Why is energy not recycled like matter?

Energy can’t be created or destroyed; it is lost at each step and needs to be continuously supplied.

What role does the Sun play in ecosystems?

The Sun provides energy that is transformed by producers into food.

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing nutrients back into the soil.

Can you name an example of each: predator, scavenger, and decomposer?

Predator: lion, Scavenger: hyena, Decomposer: mushroom.