Ecosystem Interactions and Living Organisms

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What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.

What is a food chain?

A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem from one organism to another.

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Producers, such as plants, create their own energy through photosynthesis and form the base of food chains.

Give an example of a primary consumer.

An example of a primary consumer is a rabbit that eats grass.

What is a predator-prey relationship?

It is an interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

How do decomposers contribute to the ecosystem?

Decomposers break down dead material, returning nutrients to the soil and maintaining the nutrient cycle.

What is a habitat?

A habitat is the natural environment where an organism lives.

Define biodiversity.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species in a given area, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

What is symbiosis?

Symbiosis is a close relationship between two different organisms, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.

What is a keystone species?

A keystone species is one that plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure of an ecosystem.

How do abiotic factors affect ecosystems?

Abiotic factors like temperature, water, and sunlight influence which organisms can survive and thrive in an ecosystem.

What can cause an ecosystem to change?

Changes can be caused by natural phenomena, like volcanic eruptions, or human activities, like pollution.

What is ecological succession?

Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Why is energy transfer in ecosystems considered inefficient?

Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, with the rest lost as heat.

How do human activities impact ecosystems?

Human activities like deforestation and pollution can lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.