STAAR after school - RC4

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 species.

Front

What happens to the ecosystem when a key predator is removed?

Back

The removal of a key predator can lead to an increase in the population of its prey, which may result in overgrazing or depletion of vegetation and negatively impact the entire ecosystem.

Front

Define parasitism.

Back

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host), often harming it.

Front

What is the impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems?

Back

Oil spills can severely damage marine ecosystems by contaminating water, harming marine life, disrupting food webs, and causing long-term ecological damage.

Front

How do invasive species affect native species?

Back

Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, disrupt local ecosystems, and lead to declines or extinctions of native populations.

Front

What is biodiversity?

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation, and ecosystem diversity.

Front

Explain the concept of carrying capacity.

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth and maintains ecosystem health.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species?

Back

Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance, helping to maintain the structure and diversity of the community.

Front

How does temperature affect marine life?

Back

Temperature influences metabolic rates, breeding cycles, and distribution of marine species; rising temperatures can lead to habitat loss and shifts in species ranges.