Ecology Chapter 4 Test Review

Front

What is the original source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The sun.

Front

What do food chains and food webs illustrate in an ecosystem?

Back

The transfer of energy.

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

An organism that gets energy by making food from sunlight.

Front

What type of consumer is a rabbit?

Back

Herbivore.

Front

What is the process by which humans add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels?

Back

Fossil fuel combustion.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

They break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

Define the term 'ecosystem'.

Back

A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

Front

What is the significance of the carbon cycle?

Back

It describes the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

An organism that eats producers; typically herbivores.

Front

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

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of energy transfer, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.