Ecosystems TEST Review

Created by Jeff Clary5/16/13

1. What is a producer? Give three examples

A producer is an organism which “produces” its own energy. Most producers areplants that use photosynthesis to capture sunlight and produce carbohydrates from oxygen and water.

Examples: poison ivy, tulips, grass

2. What is a consumer? Give three examples.

A consumer is an organism which gets its energy by consuming other organisms.

Examples: bats, anteaters and ants

3. What is a decomposer? Give an example.

A decomposer is an organism which breaks down dead or decaying materials.

Examples: mushrooms, worms, bacteria

4. What is a scavenger? Give an example.

A scavenger is an organism which feeds on dead or decaying animals. Really, isn’t it a type of carnivore?!

Examples: vulture

5. What is an herbivore? Give three examples.

A herbivore is a special type of consumer that eats only plants. Herbivores are first-level consumers.

Examples: gazelle, giraffe, caterpillar

6. What is a carnivore? Give three examples.

A carnivore is a special type of consumer that eats other animals. Carnivores are second or third (pinnacle) level consumers.

Examples: jaguar, robin, fish

7. What is an omnivore? Give two examples.

An omnivore is a special type of consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Examples: grizzly bear, coyote, Mr. Clary

8. What is competition? Describe an example of competition.

Competition is the struggle between organisms for the limited resources in an ecosystem.

Examples: A tree shading out grass for sunlight.

Two vultures fighting over a dead armadillo.

9. What is biodiversity?

• Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things

• The tremendous variety of life on Earth is made possible by complex interactions among all living things including microscopic species like algae and mites.

There are 3 components of biodiversity

1. Diversity of genesChihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different.

Chihuahua Beagle

Rottweilers

Diversity of speciesFor example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species.

Saki Monkey Golden Skimmer Meadow Beauty

There are 3 components of biodiversity

Variety of ecosystemsPrairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it.

Paines Prairie

Hoh Rain Forest

Florida Sand hill Pond

There are 3 components of biodiversity

10. What is predation? Give an example.

Predation is the situation when one organism hunts, kills and consumes another organism.

Examples: a venus-fly-trap and a fly

Or

A snack and a field mouse

11. What is a symbiotic relationship?

Symbiosis is a relationship between two different organisms in which at least one of the organisms benefits.

12. What are the three types of symbiotic relationships? Give an example of each.

Mutualism: both benefit. Example: a cowbird on a cow.

Commensalism: one benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: a bird’s nest in a tree.

Parasitism: one benefits, the other is unharmed. Example: a mosquito on your arm.

13. Describe how humans impact an ecosystem. Give an example.

14. What is a defense strategy? List the common defense strategies, give an example of each (hint: pages 664-665).

Camouflage: fish – dark top, light belly

Protective Coverings: porcupine

Warning Colors: Poison dart frog

Mimicry: King snake (like coral snake)

False Coloring: Black dot on a fish/not eye

16. What is a biotic factor? Give two examples.

A biotic factor is a living factor in an ecosystem.

Examples: bacteria, palm trees, starlings

17. What is an abiotic factor? Give two examples

An abiotic factor is the non-living parts of the ecosystem.

Examples: rocks, air, water

18. Draw a simple food web. Be sure the energy arrows point in the correct direction.

19. Draw a sample energy pyramid (using organisms from your food web). How much energy is transferred to each level? Which has the most energy available? The least?

eaglemouse

grasshoppergrass

Energy Pyramid