Ch. 4 Flashcard: Ecosystems and Communities

Front

How do consumers obtain energy in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers obtain energy by hunting, searching, and/or gathering their own food.

Front

What is the term for a complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem?

Back

Food Web

Front

What type of symbiotic relationship benefits one species while the other is unaffected?

Back

Commensalism

Front

Define a habitat in ecological terms.

Back

A habitat is where living things stay and grow.

Front

What is the term for a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another?

Back

Parasitism

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers create their own food through photosynthesis and provide energy for consumers.

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 mutualism in terms of symbiotic relationships?

Back

Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the relationship.

Front

What is an example of a primary consumer?

Back

An example of a primary consumer is a herbivore, such as a rabbit or deer.

Front

How do decomposers contribute to an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.