Ecosystem Assessment #2: Lessons 5-8

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (air, water, soil) in a specific area.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, like plants, that can make their own food through photosynthesis and provide energy for other organisms.

Front

What are consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on eating other organisms (plants or animals) for energy.

Front

What happens if a species in a food chain disappears?

Back

If a species in a food chain disappears, it can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, affecting all organisms that depend on it for food.

Front

What is biodiversity?

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms in an ecosystem, which contributes to its health and stability.

Front

What is a habitat?

Back

A habitat is the natural environment where an organism lives, providing the necessary resources for survival, such as food, water, and shelter.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to recycle matter in the ecosystem.

Front

What is competition in an ecosystem?

Back

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources (like food, water, or space) in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.