Ecosystem and Environmental Concepts Glossary

What does "abiotic" refer to in an ecosystem?

• Living parts of an ecosystem

• Non-living parts of an ecosystem

• Plants in an ecosystem

• Animals in an ecosystem

Which term describes an organism that eats animals and/or plant matter?

• Producer

• Decomposer

• Consumer

• Ecosystem

What is the role of a decomposer in an ecosystem?

• To produce energy from the sun

• To break down dead tissue

• To consume plants

• To connect food chains

What is an ecosystem?

• A single plant species

• A community of interacting organisms and their environment

• A type of soil

• A weather pattern

What does a food chain represent?

• The connections between different organisms for food

• The growth of plants

• The cycle of water

• The movement of air

What is a food web?

• A single food chain

• A complex interconnection of all food chains in an ecosystem

• A type of plant

• A weather pattern

What is nutrient cycling?

• The process of photosynthesis

• The extraction and recycling of minerals in an ecosystem

• The movement of water

• The growth of plants

What is a global ecosystem?

• A small pond

• A large ecological area with diverse fauna and flora

• A single tree

• A type of soil

What is the role of a producer in an ecosystem?

• To consume other organisms

• To absorb energy from the sun

• To decompose dead matter

• To connect food chains

What does biodiversity refer to?

• The variety of life in the world or a particular habitat

• The number of plants in an area

• The amount of sunlight in an ecosystem

• The water cycle