Ecology Basics

Decomposers are important to ecosystems because they

• return vital nutrients to the environment

• are producers

• capture energy from the Sun

• can be omnivores

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

An organism that makes its own food is called a

• consumer

• producer

• heterotroph

• chloroplast

Food webs are models that show

• one sequence of producers and consumers

• networks of feeding relationships

• stored energy in food chains

• only primary consumers in an ecosystem

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Giant pandas eat bamboo almost exclusively. For this reason giant pandas are an example of a(n)

• carnivore

• omnivore

• generalist

• specialist

What are two processes by which autotrophs make food?

• chemosynthesis and photosynthesis

• photosynthesis and respiration

• chemosynthesis and decomposition

• decomposition and combustion

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

A species that has one main food source but may eat a few others, is intolerant of climate or environmental conditions and does not adapt easily.

• autotroph

• heterotroph

• generalist

• specialist

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Heterotroph that does not rely on a single food or prey source.

• autotroph

• heterotroph

• generalist

• specialist

Organism that breaks down dead plants or animals into the substances that plants need for growth.

• carnivore

• herbivore

• omnivore

• decomposer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Organism that cannot produce its own food, instead taking nutrition from other sources of organic carbon, mainly plant or animal matter.

• autotroph

• heterotroph

• scavenger

• detritivore

Organism that can make its own food by synthesizing organic nutrients from inorganic materials, using energy from sunlight or a chemical source to drive the process.

• autotroph

• heterotroph

• scavenger

• detritivore

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6