Ecosystem Flashcard

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What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers convert solar energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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What are heterotrophs?

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

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What is nitrogen fixation?

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Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants.

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What is parasitism?

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Parasitism is a type of interaction where one species benefits at the expense of another, harming the host.

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How do non-native predators affect ecosystems?

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Non-native predators can reduce biodiversity by preying on native species, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.

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What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

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What is commensalism?

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Commensalism is a type of interaction where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

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What are trophic levels?

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Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, representing the flow of energy from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What is biodiversity?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular ecosystem, including the number of species and genetic diversity.