December 2 Review on Ecology

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What happens to the food chain if the producer population decreases significantly?

Back

A significant decrease in producers leads to a decline in herbivore populations, which in turn affects predator populations.

Front

Define predator/prey relationship.

Back

A predator/prey relationship is an interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and consumes another organism (the prey).

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms for energy.

Front

Explain the concept of a food chain.

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Front

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

Back

A food chain is a single pathway of energy flow, while a food web consists of multiple interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

Front

What is the significance of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth.

Front

Describe the relationship between parasites and hosts.

Back

Parasites live on or in a host organism, deriving nutrients at the host's expense, often harming the host.

Front

What is the impact of invasive species on native populations?

Back

Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, leading to declines or extinctions of native populations.

Front

Define the term 'biodiversity'.

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species.