Ecosystem Review

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What is a producer in an ecosystem?

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A producer is an organism that uses sunlight to produce its own food through photosynthesis.

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Define scarcity in ecological terms.

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Scarcity refers to a situation where there are only a few of a particular organism present in an ecosystem.

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What does over-abundance mean in an ecosystem context?

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Over-abundance refers to a situation where there are too many of one organism in an ecosystem, which can disrupt balance.

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What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

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The arrows in a food chain show the flow of energy from one organism to another.

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What is the potential impact of the extinction of a predator, such as owls, on prey populations?

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If owls became extinct, the number of their prey, such as mice, would likely increase, while the populations of their prey's food sources, like insects, would likely decrease.

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What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to maintain the ecosystem's nutrient cycle.

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Explain the concept of a food web.

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow between various organisms.

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What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

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A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a more complex representation showing multiple feeding relationships.

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How does energy transfer occur in an ecosystem?

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Energy transfer in an ecosystem occurs through feeding relationships, where energy is passed from producers to consumers and then to decomposers.

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What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

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Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, stability, and productivity, allowing ecosystems to better withstand changes and disturbances.

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