Exploring Ecosystems

What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

• Biotic factors are the physical elements like soil and water.

• Biotic factors refer to the climate and weather patterns in an ecosystem.

• Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem.

• Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem.

List three examples of abiotic factors.

• Sunlight, temperature, water

• Plants, animals, fungi

• Soil, rocks, minerals

• Air, nutrients, bacteria

How do plants and animals interact in an ecosystem?

• Animals only compete with each other, not with plants.

• Plants and animals only interact through photosynthesis.

• Plants and animals interact through relationships like predation, competition, and symbiosis, contributing to ecosystem balance.

• Plants and animals do not interact in an ecosystem.

Classify the following: oak tree, rabbit, and mushroom.

• oak tree: animal

• rabbit: plant

• mushroom: tree

• oak tree: plant, rabbit: animal, mushroom: fungus

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

• Decomposers produce energy for plants.

• Decomposers are primary consumers in the food chain.

• Decomposers recycle nutrients and help maintain ecosystem balance.

• Decomposers compete with plants for sunlight.

Explain how energy flows in a food chain.

• Energy does not flow through decomposers in a food chain.

• Energy flows only from consumers to producers.

• Energy is transferred equally at each trophic level without loss.

• Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and so on, with energy loss at each trophic level.

Identify a biotic factor in a desert ecosystem.

• Rock

• Sand

• Lizard

• Cactus

What is the difference between flora and fauna?

• Flora is plant life; fauna is animal life.

• Flora refers to weather patterns; fauna refers to climate changes.

• Flora is the study of ecosystems; fauna is the study of geology.

• Flora includes fungi; fauna includes bacteria.

Describe how weather can affect an ecosystem.

• Ecosystems are only affected by climate change, not weather.

• Weather has no impact on ecosystems.

• Weather affects ecosystems by influencing species distribution, food availability, and habitat conditions.

• Weather only influences human activities, not natural ecosystems.

Give an example of a food chain involving a producer, consumer, and decomposer.

• Tree -> Deer -> Bacteria

• Algae -> Fish -> Snail

• Grass -> Rabbit -> Fungi

• Corn -> Insect -> Worm