Ecology Review

Front

What do fungi do to dead plants and animals?

Back

Fungi decompose dead plants and animals, breaking them down into simpler organic materials.

Front

What is an example of a decomposer?

Back

Fungus is an example of a decomposer.

Front

What happens if the rabbit population is removed from the food chain: grass → rabbit → fox?

Back

If the rabbit population is removed, there would be more grass due to decreased herbivory.

Front

What may happen if the snowshoe hare is removed from the food web?

Back

The shrew population would decrease due to being the only food source for hawks.

Front

What is a consumer that eats plants called?

Back

A consumer that eats plants is called a herbivore.

Front

Define 'decomposer'.

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Front

What role do herbivores play in an ecosystem?

Back

Herbivores are primary consumers that eat plants, transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.

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

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

Front

What is the significance of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, like plants, are essential as they convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.