Understanding Ecosystems and Food Webs

What is an ecosystem?

• A place where only animals live

• A delicate balance of living and nonliving things

• A type of weather pattern

• A large body of water

Which of the following is a role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• Producing energy from the sun

• Breaking down dead plants and animals

• Eating small mammals

• Controlling the weather

In a forest food web, which of the following is a primary consumer?

• Fox

• Bobcat

• Mouse

• Plant

How does a food web help maintain balance in an ecosystem?

• By providing shelter for animals

• By showing the natural connection among living things

• By controlling the amount of sunlight

• By creating new species

Why are decomposers considered the "clean-up crew" of the natural world?

• They eat living plants and animals

• They break down dead matter and waste

• They produce food for other animals

• They control the weather

What might happen if decomposers were removed from an ecosystem?

• Plants would grow faster

• Dead matter would accumulate

• More sunlight would be available

• Animals would stop eating

Which of the following is an example of a nonliving component of an ecosystem?

• Fox

• Plant

• Weather

• Mouse

What role does the sun play in a forest ecosystem's food web?

• It is a primary consumer

• It provides energy for plants

• It decomposes dead matter

• It eats small mammals

How do plants contribute to a forest ecosystem's food web?

• By eating small mammals

• By providing energy to primary consumers

• By breaking down dead matter

• By controlling the weather

What is the relationship between a fox and a mouse in a forest food web?

• The fox is a producer, and the mouse is a consumer

• The fox is a decomposer, and the mouse is a producer

• The fox is a predator, and the mouse is prey

• The fox and the mouse are both decomposers