Unit Test: Ecology (4.2 and 4.6) Flashcards
Using a specific example (perhaps the species you presented on) explain the negative impact of introducing a non-native species into an environment. 4
After Zebra mussels were introduced, it gave a negative impact to its new environment.
They harmed the environment, the economy or even, human health.
It doesn’t have any natural predators so they are growing out of control, pushing and endangering native species
Today they cost governments billions and billions of tax payer’s money
Why are introduced species so often detrimental to their new environment? 2
Introduced species can be so detrimental to their new environment because they can push native species on the brink of extinction. And taking out native species can cause unequalness.
An example of that would be: Animals that were once prey can now be in abundance which can destroy the environment where the prey can eat all what they want.
Describe the difference between consumers and producers 2
Producers synthesize food for the entire ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis. Plants with the help of carbon dioxide and sunlight, synthesize food. This process is called photosynthesis.
Consumers: They cannot synthesize food on their own, so they depend on producers for their food.
What are consumers? 3
They cannot produce their own food
Get their energy from what it eats
Fall into 1 or 3 levels: Primary, Secondary or Tertiary
What are Primary consumers? 2
Consumers that eat plants
Ex: Herbivores
What are Secondary consumers? 2
Consumers that eat small animals
Ex: Small carnivores
What are Tertiary consumers? 2
Consumers that eat larger animal’s, “top” of the food chain
Ex. Large carnivores
What are the 5 “kinds” of Consumers/Heterotrophs?
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
Decomposer
Detrivore/Saprotroph
What is a Herbivore?
An organism that eats only plants
Ex. Caterpillars
What is a Carnivore?
An organism that eats only animals
Ex. Sharks, Lion, Wolf
What is a Omnivore?
An organism that eats both plants and animals
Ex. Human beings, Crabs, Hummingbirds, Crows, Badgers, Rats, Ring-tailed lemur, Crickets, Wasps
What is a Decomposer?
An organism that consumes any remaining dead plant and animal matter
Ex. Fungi (Mushrooms), Bacteria, Earthworms, Clams, Lobsters, Flat worms
What is a Detrivore/Saprotroph?
An organism that eats the bodies of smaller dead animals, dead plant matter and animal dung
Ex. Millipedes, Woodlice, Dung flies, Slugs, Many terrestrial worms, Sea stars, Sea cucumbers, Fiddler crabs
Describe why food chains/webs have finite numbers of levels
Food chains/webs have finite numbers of levels because when an organism (higher in the food chain) eats another organism (lower in the food chain) the amount of energy transferred to the next trophic level is between 5-20%.
Most stored energy is lost. Mostly from waste and some from heat.
Who are producers?
Producers synthesize food for the entire ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis. Plants with the help of carbon dioxide and sunlight, synthesize food. This process is called photosynthesis.
