chapter 23

Question 1

Define:
Ecosystem
Trophic level
Producer
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Population
Community
Decomposer (and give example)
Biotic (give examples)
Abiotic (give examples)

Answer 1

Define:
Ecosystem – all the organisms within an area and the non-living features of the environment
Trophic level – the position of an organism within a food chain
Producer – organism which converts light energy into chemical energy by photosynthesis
Primary consumer – an animal which eats the producer
Secondary consumer – an animal which eats the primary consumer
Population- Organisms of the same species.
Community – all the populations of different species that interact in a specific area/habitat.
Decomposer (and give example) – microorganisms that break down dead organisms and release nutrients back into the ecosystem e.g. bacteria and fungi
Living factors e.g. competition, parasitism, predation
Non-living factors e.g. temperature, wind speed, rainfall, pH, light intensity