Introduction to Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
An area that includes all the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) such as soil, rocks and climate sharing an environment
Identify three biotic elements of an ecosystem.
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers
Identify three abiotic elements of an ecosystem.
Soil
Rock
Climate
What is a producer?
An organism that produces its own food, usually by photosynthesis, for example, trees
What is the difference between a primary and secondary consumer?
Primary - a herbivore that consumes producers
Secondary - carnivores that consume primary producers
What is a carnivore?
A consumer of herbivore (animals)
What is a herbivore?
A consumer of primary producers (plants)
What is an omnivore?
An omnivore consumes both producers (plants) and animals
What is a decomposer?
An organism that decomposes and breaks down dead plant and animals.
Identify one decomposer in an ecosystem.
Bacteria
Fungi
Why are decomposers so important in ecosystems?
Plants would not get essential nutrients and dead matter and waste would gather.
Why is photosynthesis so important in ecosystems?
Without photosynthesis, there would be no primary consumers which would lead to the break-down of ecosystems as primary consumers would have no source of energy. Likewise there would be no food for secondary consumers.
What is a food chain?
A food chain shows the flow of energy from producer to tertiary consumer.
What is a food web?
A food web shows a collection of food chains.
What is the nutrient cycle?
The nutrient cycle shows the transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem.
