Cycles Test

Front

What is a food web?

Back

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

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain and providing energy for consumers.

Front

What happens to a food web if a key species is removed?

Back

Removing a key species can disrupt the balance of the food web, leading to population increases or decreases in other species and potentially causing ecosystem collapse.

Front

Define the carbon cycle.

Back

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

Front

What is the largest source of nitrogen in the biosphere?

Back

The atmosphere is the largest source of nitrogen in the biosphere, making up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere.

Front

How do animals contribute to the carbon cycle?

Back

Animals contribute to the carbon cycle through respiration, which releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, and through decomposition after death.

Front

What is the significance of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

Explain the term 'trophic level'.

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy, such as producers (1st level), primary consumers (2nd level), and so on.

Front

What is the role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle?

Back

Photosynthesis allows plants to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter, thus playing a crucial role in the carbon cycle.

Front

What is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?

Back

Deforestation reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide, leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.