Ecosystems and Ecology Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Ecosystems and Ecology flashcards as text
Which term describes all living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system?
Answer: Ecosystem
An ecosystem includes both the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components interacting together.
What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth?
Answer: Sunlight
Sunlight is captured by photosynthetic organisms and forms the foundation of most food webs.
Which trophic level consists of organisms that convert solar energy into chemical energy?
Answer: Producers
Producers (plants, algae, cyanobacteria) fix solar energy via photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.
The process by which nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric N₂ into ammonia is called:
Answer: Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen fixation converts inert atmospheric nitrogen gas into biologically available ammonia (NH₃).
Which ecological concept describes the variety of species in a given area?
Answer: Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life forms in a specific habitat or region.
In a food chain, approximately what percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
Answer: 10%
The 10% rule states that only about 10% of energy is passed to the next trophic level; the rest is lost as heat.