5th Grade Science Chapter 4

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (air, water, soil) in a specific area.

Front

What is a predator?

Back

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

Front

What is prey?

Back

Prey is an animal that is hunted and eaten by predators.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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

Front

What is a producer?

Back

A producer is an organism, usually a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What happens during an earthquake?

Back

An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates, which can lead to rapid changes in an ecosystem.

Front

Why do nonnative species grow rapidly in new ecosystems?

Back

Nonnative species can grow rapidly because they may have no natural predators in the new ecosystem.

Front

What is the tundra?

Back

The tundra is a cold, treeless biome characterized by low temperatures, short growing seasons, and thick fur coats in animals.

Front

What is climate change?

Back

Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, which can affect ecosystems.