Untitled Flashcard Set

What is an ecosystem? What does it consist of?

A community of living things (plants, animals, microbes) interacting with non-living things (water, air, soil, sunlight) in the same area.

What is a habitat?

The natural home where an organism lives.

What is a niche?

The role or job of a species in an ecosystem, including how it gets food, interacts, and survives.

What is a biome?

A large region with similar climate, plants, and animals, such as a desert, rainforest, or tundra.

What are the 3 components of the biosphere?

Atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water).

What are the characteristics of the atmosphere?

Gases around Earth that provide oxygen, CO₂, and protection.

What are the characteristics of the lithosphere?

Solid land, soil, and rocks, where plants grow and animals live.

What are the characteristics of the hydrosphere?

All water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

What does sustainability mean?

The ability to support life over time.

How do ecosystems stay sustainable?

With balance, recycling nutrients, energy flow, and biodiversity.

How do humans ruin ecosystems?

Through pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction, overfishing, climate change, and introducing invasive species.

What does stewardship mean?

Taking care of the environment responsibly.

What is the main purpose of the nutrient cycle?

To recycle nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and water so life can continue.

What is photosynthesis?

The process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make sugar (glucose) and oxygen.

What are two products of photosynthesis?

Glucose (sugar) and oxygen.

What are three things needed for photosynthesis?

Sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

What happens during cellular respiration?

Organisms use glucose and oxygen to make energy (ATP), releasing carbon dioxide and water.

What does biodiversity mean?

The variety of living things in an ecosystem.

What are producers?

Plants that make their own food by photosynthesis.

What are consumers?

Animals that eat plants or other animals.

Why does an ecosystem need producers and consumers?

Producers provide energy/oxygen; consumers spread seeds and control populations, maintaining balance.

What does the energy pyramid display?

Levels of energy within an ecosystem, with producers at the base and top predators at the top.

Which level of the energy pyramid has the most energy?

Producers have the most energy.

Which level has the least energy?

Tertiary consumers (top predators) have the least energy.

How does the food chain work?

Producers → Primary consumers → Secondary consumers → Tertiary consumers → Decomposers recycle nutrients.

What is commensalism?

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is not harmed.

What is mutualism?

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

What is parasitism?

A relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

What is predation?

A relationship where one organism kills and eats another.

What are some ways humans ruin ecosystems?

Through pollution, cutting forests, draining wetlands, building cities, overfishing, and mining.

What is habitat change?

When humans alter or destroy the natural home of a species.

What is a non-native species?

A species brought from another place, not naturally found there.

Why are non-native species problematic?

They can upset the balance of the ecosystem.

What is an invasive species?

A non-native species that spreads quickly and harms the ecosystem.

How many invasive species are found in Canada?

Over 180 invasive species, mostly in the Great Lakes and across Canada.

Why might invasive species be problematic?

They can compete for resources, predate native species, and spread diseases.

How can humans control invasive species?

By implementing laws, cleaning equipment, using biological control, providing education, and protecting habitats.