Ecology Introductions

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit, such as a clownfish and a sea anemone.

Front

What does the term 'organism' refer to?

Back

A living thing that can function independently.

Front

Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem?

Back

They break down complex materials into simpler substances, recycling nutrients back into the environment.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

Front

What happens to a predator's population if its prey dies out?

Back

The predator's population may decline due to lack of food.

Front

Define the term 'ecosystem'.

Back

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Front

What is the role of consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms for energy.

Front

What is the difference between herbivores and carnivores?

Back

Herbivores eat plants, while carnivores eat other animals.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Front

What is biodiversity?

Back

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.