Environmental Science Unit 1 Review

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a level of organization that includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors interacting in a specific environment.

Front

What process do organisms like cows and humans use to release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere?

Back

Respiration.

Front

What is nitrogen-fixation?

Back

Nitrogen-fixation is the conversion of unusable nitrogen (N2) from the atmosphere into usable nitrogen compounds (like ammonia) for organisms.

Front

What is denitrification?

Back

Denitrification is the process by which nitrogen compounds are converted back into nitrogen gas (N2) and released into the atmosphere.

Front

What does a population represent in ecological terms?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Front

What are heterotrophs?

Back

Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms for energy.

Front

Which of the following is NOT a heterotroph: Hawks, Wolves, Deer, or Grasses?

Back

Grasses are not heterotrophs; they are autotrophs that produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem (like plants and animals), while abiotic factors are non-living components (like water, soil, and climate).

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, or autotrophs, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is the significance of the carbon cycle?

Back

The carbon cycle is crucial for regulating Earth's climate and providing essential carbon compounds for living organisms.