Lesson 5

Question 1

ecosystem

Answer 1

all the biotic (living) organisms and abiotic (nonliving) components in a particular location

Question 2

stable state

Answer 2

a condition of temporary balance and stability within an ecosystem

Question 3

tipping point

Answer 3

a limit to the amount of change or disruption an ecosystem can handle while still maintaining its current state

Question 4

food chain

Answer 4

movement of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem, from solar energy to apex predators, the highest species in the network

Question 5

trophic structure

Answer 5

scientific term for “food chain,” including the idea of producers, two levels of consumers, and decomposers

Question 6

producers

Answer 6

green plants that convert solar energy into food

Question 7

consumers

Answer 7

herbivores that eat the green plants and are ultimately eaten by carnivores

Question 8

decomposers

Answer 8

organisms that transform dead organisms and waste material into nutrients that can be used by producers

Question 9

hydrosphere

Answer 9

a water-climate system

Question 10

lithosphere

Answer 10

an earth-atmosphere interface

Question 11

atmosphere

Answer 11

an energy-atmosphere system

Question 12

biodiversity

Answer 12

variety of life including genetic, species, and ecosystem levels