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Questions and Answers
What type of bacteria utilize the heat from radioactive decay in ocean depths?
What type of bacteria utilize the heat from radioactive decay in ocean depths?
Which of the following organisms is classified as a primary consumer?
Which of the following organisms is classified as a primary consumer?
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
Which of the following is considered an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Which of the following is considered an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
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Carnivores that feed on herbivores are classified as which type of consumers?
Carnivores that feed on herbivores are classified as which type of consumers?
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Which of the following is an example of a detritivore?
Which of the following is an example of a detritivore?
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What is included in the abiotic structure of an ecosystem?
What is included in the abiotic structure of an ecosystem?
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Which element is NOT considered a major nutrient in an ecosystem?
Which element is NOT considered a major nutrient in an ecosystem?
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What is the primary source of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis in green plants?
What is the primary source of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis in green plants?
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Which human activity has contributed to the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Which human activity has contributed to the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
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What is a consequence of the indiscriminate use of phosphate fertilizers?
What is a consequence of the indiscriminate use of phosphate fertilizers?
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Where does a significant reservoir of phosphorus reside?
Where does a significant reservoir of phosphorus reside?
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What is defined as the rate at which radiant energy is converted into organic substances by primary producers?
What is defined as the rate at which radiant energy is converted into organic substances by primary producers?
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Which factor does NOT affect the primary productivity of an ecosystem?
Which factor does NOT affect the primary productivity of an ecosystem?
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What leads to the loss of phosphates into deep ocean sediments?
What leads to the loss of phosphates into deep ocean sediments?
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Which of the following contributes to carbon dioxide production through respiration?
Which of the following contributes to carbon dioxide production through respiration?
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What is the primary function of a food chain in an ecosystem?
What is the primary function of a food chain in an ecosystem?
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Which trophic level does the grasshopper occupy in the grassland food chain?
Which trophic level does the grasshopper occupy in the grassland food chain?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a major functional attribute of an ecosystem?
Which of the following is NOT considered a major functional attribute of an ecosystem?
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What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
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In the pond ecosystem food chain, which organism directly consumes small fish?
In the pond ecosystem food chain, which organism directly consumes small fish?
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What is primarily needed for life processes in an ecosystem besides energy?
What is primarily needed for life processes in an ecosystem besides energy?
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Which organism occupies the highest trophic level in the grassland ecosystem food chain?
Which organism occupies the highest trophic level in the grassland ecosystem food chain?
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What is the result of the continuous flow of energy through an ecosystem?
What is the result of the continuous flow of energy through an ecosystem?
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What role do food chains play in maintaining ecological balance?
What role do food chains play in maintaining ecological balance?
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What initiates a grazing food chain?
What initiates a grazing food chain?
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What does biomagnification refer to in an ecological context?
What does biomagnification refer to in an ecological context?
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How did DDT affect the Osprey population?
How did DDT affect the Osprey population?
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Which of the following best describes detritivores?
Which of the following best describes detritivores?
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In a food web, what happens if one species becomes extinct?
In a food web, what happens if one species becomes extinct?
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What is an ecological pyramid?
What is an ecological pyramid?
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Which of these is NOT a type of food chain mentioned?
Which of these is NOT a type of food chain mentioned?
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Which level of the ecological pyramid contains the largest number of organisms?
Which level of the ecological pyramid contains the largest number of organisms?
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What is the primary energy source for a detritus food chain?
What is the primary energy source for a detritus food chain?
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What impact does biomagnification typically have on top predators?
What impact does biomagnification typically have on top predators?
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Which organism is considered a primary producer in both grazing and detritus food chains?
Which organism is considered a primary producer in both grazing and detritus food chains?
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Which of the following best describes nutrient cycles?
Which of the following best describes nutrient cycles?
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What effect does a disturbance in one species have on the food chain?
What effect does a disturbance in one species have on the food chain?
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What role do fungi play in the detritus food chain?
What role do fungi play in the detritus food chain?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of a food web compared to a food chain?
Which of the following is a characteristic of a food web compared to a food chain?
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Study Notes
Significance of Food Chains and Food Webs
- Food chains and webs facilitate energy flow, nutrient cycling, and ecological balance, regulating animal population sizes.
- Biomagnification leads to increased concentrations of pollutants, like DDT, in organisms at higher trophic levels, adversely affecting species.
Case Study: DDT and Biomagnification
- DDT, an insecticide, caused severe population declines in birds like Osprey due to biomagnification.
- DDT concentrations were initially low but increased through the food chain from phytoplanktons to birds, leading to thinner eggshells and chick mortality.
Ecological Pyramids
- Ecological pyramids visually represent the trophic structure of an ecosystem, with producers at the base and predators at the top.
- Pyramid of numbers illustrates the count of organisms at each trophic level.
Trophic Levels and Consumers
- Consumers are classified into herbivores (primary consumers), carnivores (secondary and tertiary consumers), omnivores, and detritivores which consume decomposing materials.
- Herbivores feed directly on producers; carnivores feed on other consumers while omnivores consume both plants and animals.
Decomposers
- Decomposers, primarily bacteria and fungi, break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Abiotic and Biotic Components
- Abiotic factors include climate (sunlight, temperature, humidity), soil (edaphic), and geographical features, which interact with biotic components in ecosystems.
- Chemical factors involve major nutrients, trace elements, pollutants, and organic substances.
Functional Attributes of Ecosystems
- Ecosystems operate systematically, receiving energy from the sun and exchanging nutrients and water among biotic and abiotic components.
- Key functional aspects include food chains, energy flow, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem regulation.
Food Chains
- Food chains consist of trophic levels where organisms transfer energy through feeding relationships.
- Examples include grass-grasshopper-frog-snake-hawk and phytoplankton-water fleas-small fish-tuna.
Types of Food Chains
- Grazing food chain starts with green plants leading to apex carnivores.
- Detritus food chain begins with dead organic matter consumed by detritivores, demonstrating a different energy flow.
Food Webs
- Food webs depict complex feeding relationships, allowing resilience against disruptions; a species' extinction may not severely impact the entire ecosystem.
Nutrient Cycles: Carbon Cycle
- Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis, converting it into organic substances, cycling throughout the ecosystem.
- Microorganisms return carbon in dead organic matter to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change concerns through fossil fuel combustion.
Nutrient Cycles: Phosphorus Cycle
- Phosphorus is found in rocks and soil, essential for life, but misuse of fertilizers leads to eutrophication in water bodies, promoting harmful algal blooms.
- Sea birds play a functional role in cycling phosphorus, with phosphate runoff impacting ocean ecosystems.
Production of Biomass
- Primary production includes biomass generation through photosynthesis, influenced by solar radiation, water, nutrient availability, and plant types.
- Gross primary production (GPP) accounts for net primary production (NPP) and respiratory loss in ecosystems.
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