Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is an ecosystem?
What is an ecosystem?
Define ecology.
Define ecology.
Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Abiotic factors are living organisms in an ecosystem.
Abiotic factors are living organisms in an ecosystem.
False
Consumers are organisms that depend on other organisms for ____.
Consumers are organisms that depend on other organisms for ____.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following autotroph types with their method of making food:
Match the following autotroph types with their method of making food:
Signup and view all the answers
What are carnivores that are unable to digest plants called?
What are carnivores that are unable to digest plants called?
Signup and view all the answers
Consumers are organisms that depend on other organisms for food.
Consumers are organisms that depend on other organisms for food.
Signup and view all the answers
Herbivores consume ______.
Herbivores consume ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Signup and view all the answers
What is an ecosystem?
What is an ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem? (Select all that apply)
Which of the following are examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
Consumers are organisms that produce their own food.
Consumers are organisms that produce their own food.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms and release simple inorganic molecules back to the environment? They are known as __________.
What is the term for organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms and release simple inorganic molecules back to the environment? They are known as __________.
Signup and view all the answers
What is an ecosystem?
What is an ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two types of autotrophs based on the energy source they use to make food?
What are the two types of autotrophs based on the energy source they use to make food?
Signup and view all the answers
Energy transfer between trophic levels in ecosystems is efficient, with approximately 90% efficiency.
Energy transfer between trophic levels in ecosystems is efficient, with approximately 90% efficiency.
Signup and view all the answers
Scavengers consume the soft tissues of dead animals. Examples of scavengers include vultures. Detritivores consume ______.
Scavengers consume the soft tissues of dead animals. Examples of scavengers include vultures. Detritivores consume ______.
Signup and view all the answers
What are producers also called?
What are producers also called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two basic types of autotrophs?
What are the two basic types of autotrophs?
Signup and view all the answers
Carnivores can digest plants but do not commonly eat them. (True/False)
Carnivores can digest plants but do not commonly eat them. (True/False)
Signup and view all the answers
Herbivores consume ______ such as plants or algae.
Herbivores consume ______ such as plants or algae.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following consumer types with their descriptions:
Match the following consumer types with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
What do photoautotrophs use to make food by photosynthesis?
What do photoautotrophs use to make food by photosynthesis?
Signup and view all the answers
What are organisms that use energy from chemical compounds to make food called?
What are organisms that use energy from chemical compounds to make food called?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are biotic factors in an ecosystem? (Select all that apply)
Which of the following are biotic factors in an ecosystem? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
Consumers depend on other organisms for food. True or False?
Consumers depend on other organisms for food. True or False?
Signup and view all the answers
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats ________.
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats ________.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two basic types of autotrophs?
What are the two basic types of autotrophs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which organisms feed on dead leaves, animal feces, and other organic debris?
Which organisms feed on dead leaves, animal feces, and other organic debris?
Signup and view all the answers
Energy transfer between trophic levels is highly efficient.
Energy transfer between trophic levels is highly efficient.
Signup and view all the answers
A community is composed of all of the ________ factors of an area.
A community is composed of all of the ________ factors of an area.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the ecological levels:
Match the ecological levels:
Signup and view all the answers
What are producers in a food chain known as?
What are producers in a food chain known as?
Signup and view all the answers
Ecosystems contain only living parts and no abiotic factors.
Ecosystems contain only living parts and no abiotic factors.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for organisms that depend on other organisms for food?
What is the term for organisms that depend on other organisms for food?
Signup and view all the answers
In an ecosystem, scavengers consume the soft tissues of dead animals. Detritivores consume detritus, which is made up of dead leaves, animal feces, and other organic ______________.
In an ecosystem, scavengers consume the soft tissues of dead animals. Detritivores consume detritus, which is made up of dead leaves, animal feces, and other organic ______________.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Signup and view all the answers
What are consumers in an ecosystem?
What are consumers in an ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
Abiotic factors are the non-living _________ components of an environment.
Abiotic factors are the non-living _________ components of an environment.
Signup and view all the answers
What do producers in an ecosystem do?
What do producers in an ecosystem do?
Signup and view all the answers
Define food chain.
Define food chain.
Signup and view all the answers
Food webs are less realistic representations of consumption relationships compared to food chains.
Food webs are less realistic representations of consumption relationships compared to food chains.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Ecological System
- An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (biotic factors) and non-living (abiotic) factors that interact with one another.
- It includes all of the living things (biotic factors) in a given area, such as plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as non-living components like rocks, temperature, and humidity.
Ecological Levels of Organization
- Ecology organizes its study of the interactions of living things and their environment into 6 levels of focus:
- Population: a group of organisms that are genetically related and can breed to produce fertile young.
- Community: composed of all of the biotic factors of an area.
- Ecosystem: includes the biotic and abiotic factors in an area.
- Biome: a large area classified according to the species that live in that location, characterized by temperature range, soil type, and the amount of light and water.
- Biosphere: the part of the planet with living organisms, including part of the oceans and the atmosphere.
Types of Ecosystems
- Terrestrial ecosystems: land-based ecosystems, found on continents and islands.
- Freshwater ecosystems
- Marine ecosystems
- Desert ecosystems
Interactions in Ecosystems
- Biotic factors: the living organisms in an ecosystem, including producers, consumers, and decomposers.
- Abiotic factors: the non-living physical and chemical components of an environment, including temperature, light, water, wind, and fire.
Energy Flow through Ecosystems
- Food chain: a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
- Food web: a network of interconnected food chains that shows the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
- Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with a typical efficiency around 10%.
Organisms in Ecosystems
- Producers: organisms that make their own food, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria.
- Photoautotrophs: use energy from sunlight to make food by photosynthesis.
- Chemoautotrophs: use energy from chemical compounds to make food by chemosynthesis.
- Consumers: organisms that depend on other organisms for food, including herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers.
- Decomposers: organisms that break down dead organic matter, including scavengers, detritivores, and saprotrophs.### Ecosystem
- A geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble of life.
- Ecosystems contain biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
Types of Ecosystems
- Terrestrial ecosystems: land-based ecosystems, found on continents and islands.
- Can be categorized based on chemical factors: pH, oxygen, and nutrients.
Decomposition
- When organisms die, they leave behind energy and matter.
- Decomposers (scavengers, detritivores, and saprotrophs) break down remains and release simple inorganic molecules back to the environment.
Energy Flow
- Energy is transferred between trophic levels in a food chain or web.
- Each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from the basic input of the chain.
- Energy transfer is inefficient, with a typical efficiency around 10%.
Ecological Levels
- Population: a group of organisms that belong to the same species.
- Community: all biotic factors in an area.
- Ecosystem: biotic and abiotic factors in an area.
- Biome: a large area classified according to the species that live there.
- Biosphere: the part of the planet with living organisms.
Consumers
- Organisms that depend on other organisms for food.
- Herbivores: consume producers such as plants or algae.
- Carnivores: consume animals.
- Omnivores: consume both plants and animals.
Abiotic Factors
- Physical factors: temperature, light, water, and fire.
- Chemical factors: pH, oxygen, and nutrients.
Ecological Interactions
- Biotic factors interact with each other in various ways, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis.
- Abiotic factors influence the survival and growth of organisms.
Ecology
- The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
- Interactions can be broadly categorized into two types: biotic and abiotic.### Ecological Organization Levels
- The lowest ecological organization level is a species, which is a group of genetically related organisms that can breed to produce fertile young.
- A population is a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area and interact with one another.
- A community is composed of all the biotic factors in an area, including plants, animals, and other organisms that interact with each other.
- An ecosystem includes the biotic and abiotic factors in an area, such as living organisms, weather, landscapes, and non-living components.
- A biome is a large area classified according to the species that live in that location, characterized by a specific climate, soil type, and amount of light and water.
- The biosphere is the part of the planet with living organisms, including part of the oceans and the atmosphere.
Energy Flow through Ecosystems
- Energy flows through ecosystems in a linear sequence, with each organism occupying a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from the basic input of the chain.
- Food chains are linear sequences of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
- Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.
- Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with a typical efficiency around 10%.
Decomposers and Decomposition
- Decomposers break down dead organic matter into simple inorganic molecules, releasing nutrients back to the environment.
- Scavengers consume the soft tissues of dead animals, while detritivores consume detritus, or dead leaves, animal feces, and other organic debris.
- Saprotrophs are the final step in decomposition, feeding on any remaining organic matter left after other decomposers do their work.
Types of Ecosystems
- Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based ecosystems, found on continents and islands, and can be further categorized based on factors such as climate, soil type, and amount of light and water.
- Examples of ecosystems include forests, grasslands, freshwater, marine, and desert ecosystems.
Abiotic Factors
- Abiotic factors are non-living physical and chemical components of an environment, including:
- Temperature: the amount of heat in an environment.
- Light: the amount and quality of light available.
- Water: the amount and availability of water.
- Wind: the movement of air.
- Fire: the presence or absence of fire.
- Salinity: the amount of dissolved salts in water.
- pH: the acidity or alkalinity of an environment.
- Oxygen: the amount of oxygen available.
- Nutrients: the essential elements that organisms need to survive and grow.
Interactions between Biotic and Abiotic Factors
- Biotic and abiotic factors interact with each other, influencing the survival and growth of organisms in an ecosystem.
- Examples of interactions include:
- Predation: one organism eating another.
- Competition: organisms competing for resources.
- Symbiosis: organisms living in close association with each other.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the concept of an ecosystem, including biotic and abiotic factors, and the interactions between organisms and their environment.
