Ecosystems

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What is an ecosystem?

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

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow between them.

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What is the source of energy for most ecosystems?

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The Sun is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems, providing the light needed for photosynthesis.

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What is a producer in an ecosystem?

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A producer is an organism, usually a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis, serving as a source of energy for consumers.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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What is a consumer in an ecosystem?

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A consumer is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other organisms (plants or animals) to obtain energy.

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What is a decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil.

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What is the flow of energy in a food chain?

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The flow of energy in a food chain typically goes from producers to consumers to decomposers.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

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A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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What is a community in ecological terms?

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A community is a group of different species living together in a specific area, interacting with each other.

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What are the levels of ecological organization?

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The levels of ecological organization include individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.