Ecosystems and Food Chains Quiz

An organism that converts sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into energy for other organisms. Example: Oak tree

An organism that obtains energy by eating producers or other consumers. Examples: Fox, deer, caterpillar.

Organisms that break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem. Examples: Mushrooms, some insects.

A linear diagram showing the flow of energy from producers to consumers. It represents the feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

A complex network of interconnected food chains, showing the flow of energy and relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

The continuous movement and exchange of nutrients (minerals) within an ecosystem.

A food chain that begins with producers, like plants, and proceeds to herbivores (plant-eaters) and then to carnivores (meat-eaters).

A food chain that begins with dead organic matter and proceeds to decomposers (like fungi and bacteria).

Using drones to drop seeds in hard-to-reach areas to replant trees in rainforests. This helps reforest areas quickly and efficiently, especially in challenging terrain.

A project aiming to replant 5,000 trees per hectare in the Amazon rainforest to combat climate change. This helps absorb greenhouse gases and contribute to a more sustainable environment.

Teaching children about the negative impacts of deforestation to raise awareness and encourage future action. It also highlights the positive aspects of biodiversity, making it more engaging and motivating.

A form of tourism that promotes responsible travel, helping protect nature and benefit local communities economically. It encourages respecting the environment instead of exploiting it.

Ecotourism offers a way for poor countries to develop their economies without harming their natural resources. It prioritizes preserving ecosystems and wildlife while attracting tourists.

Combating deforestation through a combination of tactics like reforestation, education, and ecotourism. This multidimensional strategy aims to preserve rainforests and mitigate climate change.

Educating individuals involved in rainforest management about the consequences of their actions to ensure sustainable practices and minimize negative impacts.

An example of rainforest conservation through education. It provides interactive app and advanced training to promote sustainable coffee production in Brazil.

Increased soy production for animal feed and meat substitutes leads to habitat destruction and environmental damage. Soy plantations replace native trees, chemicals contaminate water and soil, and deforestation reduces biodiversity.

Logging operations damage soil by compacting it with heavy machinery, increasing its vulnerability to erosion. This compacted soil is less able to absorb water, leading to increased runoff and soil loss.

Logging activities can lead to increased sedimentation in rivers and streams. Silt from eroded soil is washed into waterways, harming aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems.

Logging contributes significantly to deforestation, especially in the Amazon Rainforest. This loss of trees has a cascading effect on the ecosystem, impacting biodiversity, climate regulation, and local livelihoods.

Logging roads open up forest areas to new settlers who often clear more land for agriculture or other purposes, leading to further deforestation and environmental degradation.

Logging provides economic benefits through the production of wood products used in construction, housing, energy, and consumer goods. However, these benefits often come at a significant environmental cost.

Deforestation from logging can increase soil leaching, where rainwater washes away nutrients and minerals from the soil. This nutrient loss harms the forest ecosystem and reduces its ability to regenerate.

Logging operations create roads and infrastructure that facilitate further economic activity in forested areas. This can lead to increased access, more development, and potential for further deforestation.

A cold, coniferous forest biome with thin acidic soil low in nutrients. It is dominated by evergreen trees, mosses, and lichens.

A biome characterized by open grassy plains with sparse trees. It experiences moderate temperatures with distinct seasons and receives less precipitation than average, with fertile soil.

A biome characterized by four distinct seasons with moderate temperatures, abundant rainfall, and deciduous trees, shrubs, and herbs. Soil is fertile due to decaying vegetation.

A biome characterized by grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs. It experiences a rainy season with abundant rainfall and a dry season with limited rainfall, supporting diverse animal life.

A biome characterized by extremely dry conditions with low rainfall. It covers a significant portion of Earth's surface and features specialized plants and animals adapted to arid environments.

Tornadoes, blizzards, and fires are three natural factors that significantly impact the distribution and characteristics of the temperate grassland biome.

Broadleaf trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, and mosses are typical vegetation found within the temperate deciduous biome, creating a diverse and changing landscape throughout the year.

The soil in temperate deciduous biomes is fertile due to the decomposition of leaves and other organic matter, providing essential nutrients for plant growth.

Subsistence farming, unlike commercial farming, can contribute to deforestation at a slower pace due to selective logging practices employed by some indigenous communities. They only cut down the trees they need, minimizing environmental impact.

Commercial farming, driven by profit, has a significant negative impact on the rainforest. It necessitates deforestation on a large scale to create space for crops and cattle ranching.

Cattle ranching, a prominent form of commercial farming in the Amazon, is a major driver of deforestation. Expanding cattle ranches require vast areas of land, often obtained by clearing forests.

Slash and burn is a harmful agricultural practice used in both subsistence and commercial farming. It involves burning down forests to clear land for farming, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Cattle ranching generates significant revenue for Brazil, especially in states like Mato Grosso, which has the largest and most cattle farms. This economic impact often outweighs environmental concerns.

Cattle ranching drives the need for soy plantations to provide feed for the livestock. These plantations are established in deforested areas, further contributing to rainforest loss.

Cattle ranching is seen as unsustainable due to its heavy reliance on deforestation and its contribution to climate change. While it offers short-term economic benefits, its long-term impact is detrimental.

The rising demand for beef from countries like China, fueled by economic growth, is driving the expansion of cattle ranching in the Amazon. This demand leads to increased deforestation for more pastureland.

Deforestation destroys natural habitats, leading to the loss of plants and animals which are valuable sources of medicine.

Deforestation leads to increased flooding and wildfires. Without trees to absorb water and prevent soil erosion, heavy rains can cause devastating floods. Dry areas without trees are more prone to fires.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Deforestation reduces the planet's ability to absorb CO2, worsening the climate crisis.

Indigenous communities often rely on forests for their survival. Deforestation disrupts their way of life, leading to loss of resources and potential displacement.

Deforestation destroys habitats, disrupting the delicate balance of food chains. Animals lose their food sources and may become extinct, impacting the entire ecosystem.

Trees play a crucial role in the water cycle, absorbing water and releasing it back into the atmosphere. Deforestation disrupts this cycle, leading to droughts and dry soil, making it difficult for plants to grow.

Deforestation leads to soil infertility. The loss of trees causes less water retention, increased erosion, and a depletion of nutrients, making it difficult for plants to grow.

Deforestation has a devastating impact on the environment, affecting the air, water, soil, and the well-being of all living organisms, making the Earth less hospitable.