DCA 3 Ecosystems Class Review

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, air) in a specific area.

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 is the role of consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms for energy. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals), while abiotic factors are non-living components (water, temperature, soil).

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit, such as hummingbirds and flowers.

Front

What is parasitism?

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, such as a tapeworm in a cat.

Front

What is commensalism?

Back

Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed, like barnacles on a whale.

Front

What happens to a population when the birth rate exceeds the death rate?

Back

The population will grow.