Front

What is a vestigial structure?

Back

A vestigial structure is a body part that has lost its original function through evolution. An example is the pelvic bone in whales.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the ecosystem. An example is a fungus.

Front

What is a hypothesis?

Back

A hypothesis is a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between variables. For example, 'If I put my bananas in the fridge, they will take longer to ripen.'

Front

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population grows past the ecosystem's carrying capacity, it will start to die off to return to the carrying capacity.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that captures energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce its own food.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous structures are similar due to convergent evolution, not shared ancestry.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and supporting plant growth.

Front

What is the significance of carrying capacity in an ecosystem?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the environment.

Front

What is the definition of a hypothesis in scientific research?

Back

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested through experimentation.

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.