Ecology Basics Review

Front

What is the primary source of energy in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, are the primary source of energy in an ecosystem as they convert sunlight into usable energy through photosynthesis.

Front

What term describes the living components of an ecosystem?

Back

Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

Decomposers are organisms that feed on dead organisms, recycling nutrients back into the soil.

Front

What are abiotic factors?

Back

Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as air, water, and sunlight.

Front

What type of ecological relationship involves one organism benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

Back

Commensalism is a type of relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Front

What is the role of herbivores in an ecosystem?

Back

Herbivores are organisms that eat plants and serve as primary consumers in the energy pyramid.

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 energy and nutrients flow, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What is the significance of producers in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers form the base of the energy pyramid and provide energy for all other trophic levels.

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a type of ecological relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction.

Front

What is parasitism?

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, often harming it.