The Return of Ecology Review

Front

What is a material cycle in a self-sustaining ecosystem?

Back

A material cycle refers to the process where nutrients and elements, such as magnesium, are recycled within an ecosystem. For example, plants absorb magnesium from the soil, and when they die, they release it back into the soil, allowing new plants to use it.

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain or web represent?

Back

The arrows indicate the direction of energy flow between organisms, showing who is eating whom.

Front

What happens to the population of shrews if the snowshoe hare is removed from the food web?

Back

The shrew population would decrease because they rely on the snowshoe hare as a food source for hawks.

Front

What type of consumer is a fox in a food web?

Back

A fox is considered a tertiary consumer, as it is at the top of the food chain and feeds on secondary consumers.

Front

What happens to the amount of available energy as it moves up through the levels of an energy pyramid?

Back

The amount of available energy decreases as it moves up through the levels of the energy pyramid.

Front

Define 'producer' in an ecosystem.

Back

Producers are organisms, typically plants, that create their own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a 'primary consumer'?

Back

Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers (plants) to obtain energy.

Front

What is a 'secondary consumer'?

Back

Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

Front

Explain the role of decomposers in an ecosystem.

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the material cycle.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, allowing it to better withstand environmental changes.