unit 1 interdependence

• What is a carnivore?

  An animal that only eats other animals
• What defines a herbivore?

  An animal that only eats plant material
• What is an omnivore?

  An animal that eats both plant and animal material
• What does a detritivore feed on?

  Dead organic matter
• What is the role of decomposers?

  They feed on dead organic matter at microscopic level
• What is a producer?

  An organism that can produce its own food
• What is a primary consumer?

  A herbivore that eats the producer
• What is a secondary consumer?

  An animal that eats the primary consumer
• What is a tertiary consumer?

  An animal that eats the secondary consumer
• What is a niche in ecology?

  The role played by a species within a community
• What components make up an ecological niche?

  • Adaptations to suit habitat
  • Food/nutrients consumed
  • Predators of the organism
• What does a food chain illustrate?

  How plants and animals get their energy
• How much energy is lost at each link in a food chain?

  90% of the energy is lost
• Why are there fewer top predators compared to their prey?

  Because 90% of energy is lost
• What are the ways energy can be lost from a food web?

  • Wasted as undigested food (faeces)
  • Used for heat and movement
• What is photosynthesis?

  The process of converting CO2 and water into glucose
• What do producers use to make their food?

  Energy from sunlight
• What is chemosynthesis?

  A process used by bacteria around hydrothermal vents
• What are the steps in the carbon cycle?

  1. Carbon dioxide enters plants via photosynthesis
  2. Carbon moves through food chains
  3. Carbon returns to the atmosphere
  4. Fossil fuels form from dead organisms
  5. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide
• What is respiration in living cells?

  The process of releasing energy from food
• What do both producers and consumers release during respiration?

  Energy from their food
• What is a food web?

  • A complex network of interconnected food chains
  • Shows how energy moves between multiple organisms
• What factors can affect food webs?

  Predation, disease, competition, human impacts
• What is a negative feedback loop in ecosystems?

  A balance between predator and prey populations
• How does the fox/rabbit population model illustrate ecosystem balance?

  Increased rabbits lead to more foxes, then fewer rabbits
• How can disease impact an ecosystem?

  It can cause population drops affecting the food web
• What is an invasive species?

  A species that outcompetes native organisms
• What impact did European colonization have on the Americas?

  It caused a population decline due to diseases
• What are the responsibilities of a Countryside Ranger?

  • Look after countryside and conserve wildlife
  • Repair paths, fences, and signs
  • Educate the public about wildlife
  • Manage specific habitats
• What is the salary range for a Countryside Ranger?

  £18,000 to £28,000 per year
• What is the typical working hours for a Countryside Ranger?

  Around 37 hours a week
• What is the carbon cycle?

  How carbon moves through the atmosphere and organisms
• What is combustion?

  A reaction of a substance with oxygen
• What are the three requirements for combustion?

  Heat, oxygen, and fuel
• What is complete combustion?

  Burning in a plentiful supply of oxygen
• What is incomplete combustion?

  Burning in a limited supply of oxygen
• What role do detritivores play in ecosystems?

  They recycle nutrients from dead organic material
• How do decomposers obtain nutrients?

  By releasing enzymes to digest dead matter
• What is the role of bacteria in the rumen of ruminating animals?

  • Assist in breaking down cellulose
  • Release nutrients for absorption
  • Form a symbiotic relationship with the animal
• What gas is produced during rumination?

  Methane