Week 8 Practice: Keystone, Food Web, Carrying Capacity

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What factors can increase the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

Back

Factors such as an increase in available food, water, and suitable habitat.

Front

What happens to the carrying capacity of prey if the carrying capacity of their predator decreases?

Back

The carrying capacity of the prey will increase.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Front

How can you tell if a species is a keystone species?

Back

If changes in its population significantly affect the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

Front

What is species diversity?

Back

The variety of different species within a given area, including both plants and animals.

Front

What is the impact of disease on a specific plant species in an ecosystem?

Back

It can lead to a decrease in populations of species that rely on that plant for food.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

How does energy flow in a food web?

Back

Energy flows from producers to consumers and then to decomposers.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

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