Chapter 5: Ecosystems Vocabulary

An abiotic factor is:

• a living component of an ecosystem

• a non-living component of an ecosystem

• a type of organism

• a biological process

A biotic factor is:

• a non-living component of an ecosystem

• a living component of an ecosystem

• a chemical substance in the environment

• a physical characteristic of the environment

A carnivore is an animal that primarily eats what type of food?

• Plants

• Meat

• Fruits

• Insects

Cellular respiration is a process that:

• occurs only in plants

• converts glucose into energy

• happens only in the presence of sunlight

• produces oxygen as a byproduct

What is a community in ecological terms?

• A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area

• A group of different species living together in a specific area

• The physical environment where organisms live

• A single species population

What are components?

• Parts or elements of a larger system

• A type of software

• A programming language

• A hardware device

Condensation is the process of:

• evaporation of water

• freezing of water

• conversion of vapor into liquid

• sublimation of ice

Define consumer in ecological terms.

• An organism that produces its own food

• An organism that consumes other organisms for energy

• An organism that decomposes organic material

• An organism that lives in water

A decomposer is:

• an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms

• a type of plant that produces its own food

• an animal that hunts other animals for food

• a process of photosynthesis

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.

• A single organism living in isolation

• A community of living organisms interacting with nonliving components

• A nonliving environment without any organisms

• A group of organisms of the same species living together