STAAR Biology Reporting Category 5

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers and is at the top of the food chain. In an ecosystem, they are often predators that have few or no natural enemies.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis, providing energy for primary consumers.

Front

Define primary succession.

Back

Primary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat.

Front

What is secondary succession?

Back

Secondary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact, such as after a forest fire.

Front

What is dynamic equilibrium in an ecosystem?

Back

Dynamic equilibrium refers to a state of balance in an ecosystem where populations of organisms remain relatively stable over time, despite fluctuations.

Front

What is the significance of food webs in ecosystems?

Back

Food webs illustrate the complex feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy flows from producers to various levels of 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 are the four main types of ecological communities?

Back

The four main types of ecological communities are forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts, each characterized by distinct plant and animal life.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and supporting new plant growth.

Front

What is an example of a primary consumer?

Back

An example of a primary consumer is a herbivore, such as a rabbit, that feeds on plants.