STAAR Biology Reporting Category 5

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down organic compounds into products used by other organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

What do arrows in a food web diagram represent?

Back

The arrows represent the flow of energy from one organism to another.

Front

What is a parasitic relationship?

Back

A parasitic relationship is a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits at the expense of another, which is harmed.

Front

Define competition in an ecological context.

Back

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources in an ecosystem, such as food, space, or mates.

Front

What is the difference between a producer and a consumer?

Back

Producers create their own food through photosynthesis, while consumers obtain energy by eating other organisms.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity, stability, and resilience, allowing ecosystems to better withstand changes.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is sunlight, which is harnessed by producers through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the role of primary producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Primary producers convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.