Topic 2.1 IB ESS

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Front

Why are food chains limited to 4-5 organisms?

Back

Food chains are limited to 4-5 organisms because energy transfers between trophic levels are inefficient, with only about 10% of energy being passed on to the next level.

Front

What is the difference between a species' realized niche and fundamental niche?

Back

A species' realized niche is the actual conditions and resources it uses in the environment, influenced by biotic factors like competition and predation, while the fundamental niche is the potential mode of existence, based on physiological and behavioral limits.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down complex organic materials from dead organisms into simpler substances, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients, such as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.

Front

What is the significance of energy transfer efficiency in ecosystems?

Back

Energy transfer efficiency is significant because it determines the number of trophic levels an ecosystem can support; lower efficiency limits the number of levels.

Front

Define interspecific competition.

Back

Interspecific competition is the competition between individuals of different species for the same resources in an ecosystem, which can affect population dynamics and community structure.

Front

What is a niche?

Back

A niche is the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.

Front

What is the difference between immigration and emigration?

Back

Immigration is the movement of individuals into a population from another area, while emigration is the movement of individuals out of a population to another area.