ecology

Question 1

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

the interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of their environment

Question 2

what is a habitat?

Answer 2

the place where an organism lives

Question 3

what is a population?

Answer 3

all the organisms of one species living in a habitat

Question 4

what is a community?

Answer 4

the populations of different species living in a habitat

Question 5

what are the different levels of organisation within an ecosystem?

Answer 5

producers: plants which generate their own food through photosynthesis
primary consumers: herbivores that eat the producers
secondary consumers: carnivores that eat the primary consumers
tertiary consumers: carnivores that eat the secondary consumers

Question 6

what aspects do plants compete for?

Answer 6

light: photosynthesis
space: makes sure leaves are not shaded which maximises photosynthesis
minerals: without sufficient minerals, plants can suffer deficiency disease
water: reactant in photosynthesis

Question 7

what do animals compete for?

Answer 7

food: all animals need food for energy and life processes
mates: essential so they can pass on their genes to their offspring
territory:contain the resources and conditions animals need

Question 8

describe the carbon cycle

Answer 8

CO2 if removed from the atmosphere by plants and algae
it is returned to the atmosphere when these animals respire
It is also returned when the animals die, and are broken down by decomposers