Dynamic Ecosystems Test

Front

What is eutrophication?

Back

Eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become enriched with nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen, which can harm aquatic life.

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

Ecological succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance, leading to a more stable community.

Front

What is a top predator?

Back

A top predator is an organism that is at the top of the food chain, with no natural predators of its own, such as the sea star in the Pacific rocky intertidal food web.

Front

What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

Back

The carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the ecosystem.

Front

What is the water cycle?

Back

The water cycle is the continuous process by which water evaporates from the Earth's surface, condenses in the atmosphere, and precipitates back to the surface as rain or snow.

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Front

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Back

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but soil and some organisms still remain.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for plants, thus playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling.

Front

What is sedimentation?

Back

Sedimentation is the process by which particles settle out of a fluid, often leading to the accumulation of materials at the bottom of a body of water.

Front

What is the carbon cycle?

Back

The carbon cycle is the series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, including photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.