Unit 1 Ecology

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food using sunlight or chemical energy, typically through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

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.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.

Front

What is parasitism?

Back

Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, such as a parasite feeding on a host.

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit, such as bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar.

Front

What is commensalism?

Back

Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed, such as barnacles on a whale.

Front

What is the significance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Back

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, essential for plant growth and ecosystem health.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is sunlight, which is harnessed by autotrophs through photosynthesis.

Front

What are herbivores?

Back

Herbivores are organisms that primarily consume plants, playing a crucial role in transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.