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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with one another and their physical environment (nonliving things) in a specific area.

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What are consumers in an ecosystem?

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Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must obtain energy by eating other organisms.

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What role does the salmon play in its ecosystem?

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The salmon is a consumer because it feeds on smaller organisms like krill.

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What is an abiotic factor?

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An abiotic factor is a nonliving component of an ecosystem, such as water, soil, air, and physical objects like a table.

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What is prey in an ecological context?

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Prey refers to small consumers that are hunted and eaten by larger consumers.

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What are producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers are organisms, typically plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis.

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What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

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Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem, while abiotic factors are the nonliving components.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how different organisms in an ecosystem are related through feeding relationships.

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What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.