Ecosystem Vocabulary

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Front

What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

Front

Define a community in ecological terms.

Back

A community is a group of different species that live together in a specific area and interact with one another.

Front

What is a population in ecology?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Front

What is a predator?

Back

A predator is an animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, typically plants, that create their own food through photosynthesis and provide energy for other organisms in the ecosystem.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

Front

What are abiotic factors?

Back

Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil.

Front

Explain the concept of ecological succession.

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.