Front

What is the natural greenhouse effect?

Back

The natural greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.

Front

What would happen to Earth without the natural greenhouse effect?

Back

Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth would be much colder, making it difficult for life to exist.

Front

What is a niche in an ecosystem?

Back

A niche is the role or function of an organism within its ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.

Front

What is the niche of the red squirrel?

Back

The niche of the red squirrel includes searching for nuts and seeds, building nests in trees, and serving as a food source for predators like the great horned owl.

Front

What are autotrophs?

Back

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants and some algae.

Front

Which organism is an example of an autotroph?

Back

Grass is an example of an autotroph.

Front

What is one effect of human population growth on ecosystems?

Back

One effect of human population growth is habitat fragmentation, which leads to the loss of naturally occurring species.

Front

How does competition relate to population size?

Back

Competition increases as population size increases, as more individuals compete for limited resources.

Front

What is habitat fragmentation?

Back

Habitat fragmentation is the process by which large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

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