Ecosystems Week 4 Review

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What is an ecosystem?

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

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What is a food chain?

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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.

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What is a producer?

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A producer is an organism, usually a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis, providing energy for other organisms in the food chain.

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What is a consumer?

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A consumer is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other organisms (plants or animals) to obtain energy.

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What is a decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism, such as a mushroom or bacteria, that breaks down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

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What happens when a species is overfished?

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When a species is overfished, it can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, causing an increase in algae and a decrease in other species that rely on the overfished species.

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How do plants and animals interact in an ecosystem?

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Plants provide food and oxygen for animals, while animals produce carbon dioxide and help in the pollination and seed dispersal of plants.

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What role do mushrooms play in an ecosystem?

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Mushrooms act as decomposers, breaking down dead organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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What is the relationship between grass, insects, and birds in a food chain?

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In a food chain, grass is eaten by insects, which are then eaten by birds, showing the flow of energy from producers to consumers.

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What is the impact of losing a decomposer in an ecosystem?

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Losing a decomposer can lead to the accumulation of dead matter and a decrease in soil nutrients, negatively affecting plant growth.