Untitled Flashcard Set

Unit 1 Review: Ecosystems

What is an ecosystem? What does it consist of?
An ecosystem is a community of living things (plants, animals, microbes) that interact with non-living things (water, air, soil, sunlight) in the same area.
What is a habitat?
A habitat is the natural home where an organism lives.
What is a niche?
A niche is the role or job of a species in an ecosystem (how it gets food, interacts, survives).
What is a biome?
A biome is a large region with similar climate, plants, and animals (ex: desert, rainforest, tundra).
What are the 3 components of the biosphere?
Atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water).
What are the characteristics of the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere?
- Atmosphere = gases around Earth, provides oxygen, CO₂, protection.
- Lithosphere = solid land, soil, rocks, where plants grow and animals live.
- Hydrosphere = all water (oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater).
What does sustainability mean? How do ecosystems stay sustainable?
Sustainability means the ability to support life over time. Ecosystems stay sustainable with balance — recycling nutrients, energy flow, and biodiversity.
How do humans ruin ecosystems, and make them unsustainable?
By pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction, overfishing, climate change, and introducing invasive species.
What does stewardship mean?
Stewardship means 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.
- Two products of photosynthesis? Glucose (sugar) and oxygen.
- Three things needed for photosynthesis? Sunlight, water, 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?
Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an ecosystem.
What are producers? What are consumers?
Producers (plants) make their own food by photosynthesis. Consumers (animals) eat plants or other animals.
Why does an ecosystem need producers and consumers? How do producers help consumers?
Producers provide energy/oxygen. Consumers spread seeds, control populations. Both keep balance.
Know the energy pyramid/trophic levels:
- Level 1: Producers (plants).
- Level 2: Primary consumers (herbivores).
- Level 3: Secondary consumers (carnivores).
- Level 4: Tertiary consumers (top predators).
Which level has the most energy? Which has the least?
Producers have the most; top predators have the least.
How does the food chain work?
Producers → Primary consumers → Secondary consumers → Tertiary consumers → Decomposers recycle nutrients.

What are some ways humans ruin ecosystems?
Pollution, cutting forests, draining wetlands, building cities, overfishing, mining.
What is habitat change?
When humans alter or destroy the natural home of a species.

What is a non-native species? Why problematic?
A species brought from another place, not naturally found there. It can upset balance.
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?
1. Competition – take food/space (ex: zebra mussels).
2. Predation – eat native species (ex: smallmouth bass).
3. Disease/Disruption – spread sickness or damage habitats (ex: emerald ash borer killing trees).
How can humans control invasive species?
By laws (banning imports), cleaning boats/gear, biological control (introducing predators), education, and habitat protection.