EcoSystem Quiz Questions And Answers

An organism that creates its own food is called a producer. Producers, such as plants and some types of bacteria, are capable of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They use sunlight or chemical energy to convert inorganic substances into organic compounds, such as glucose, which can be used as food. This ability to produce their own food sets them apart from consumers, scavengers, decomposers, and carnivores, which rely on consuming other organisms or organic matter for their energy and nutrient needs.

An ecosystem refers to all the interacting organisms that live in a specific environment, such as a forest or a pond, and the abiotic (non-living) components of the environment that have an impact on these organisms. This includes factors like temperature, water availability, soil composition, and sunlight. The organisms within an ecosystem depend on each other and their surroundings for survival, and their interactions shape the overall functioning of the ecosystem.

The correct answer is "an organism that cannot produce its own food." This is because a consumer is an organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter. Unlike producers, which can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, consumers rely on external sources for their energy and nutrients.

The given question is asking for the correct term to describe the mentioned parts of the environment. The options provided are "biotic," "abiotic," "boreal," and "living." Among these options, "abiotic" is the correct answer because it refers to non-living components of the environment such as temperature, light, air, water, soil, and climate. These factors are essential for the functioning of an ecosystem but do not involve living organisms, hence they are considered abiotic.

Plants and phytoplankton are both examples of producers. Producers are organisms that can convert sunlight into energy through the process of photosynthesis. Plants on land and phytoplankton in water both have the ability to use sunlight to produce their own food, making them producers in the ecosystem. Consumers, on the other hand, are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. Therefore, plants and phytoplankton are the correct answer as they are the only options that fit the definition of producers.

A species is a group of organisms that can successfully mate with each other and reproduce. This definition is based on the biological concept of species, which defines a species as a group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. This is the most widely accepted definition of a species in the scientific community and is used to classify and categorize different organisms.

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms as well as the interactions between organisms and their environment. This means that ecologists not only study how organisms interact with each other, but also how they interact with their surroundings, including the abiotic factors such as climate, air, and soil. By understanding these interactions, ecologists can gain insights into the functioning of ecosystems and how they may be affected by various factors.

A decomposer is not an abiotic factor because it refers to an organism that breaks down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances. Abiotic factors, on the other hand, are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as light intensity, wind, humidity, and temperature. These factors play a crucial role in shaping the environment and influencing the distribution and behavior of living organisms.

A community refers to the interactions and relationships between different populations of species that coexist in the same environment. It involves the study of how different species interact with each other and with their environment. This term encompasses the various organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, that live together in a particular habitat and influence each other's survival and reproduction. It emphasizes the interdependence and interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem.

A species of plant or animal that is facing imminent extinction or extirpation is said to be endangered. This means that the species is at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the near future. The term "endangered" is used to describe species that are critically at risk and require immediate conservation efforts to prevent their extinction.

A food web is more realistic than a food chain for showing the feeding relationships in ecosystems because producers are usually eaten by many different consumers, and most consumers are eaten by more than one predator. This demonstrates the interconnectedness and complexity of the relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. In contrast, food chains only depict a linear sequence of organisms and do not capture the full range of interactions that occur in nature. By illustrating the multiple interactions and interdependencies among organisms, a food web provides a more accurate representation of the complexity of feeding relationships in ecosystems.

Solar energy that reaches the Earth's atmosphere is primarily used to heat the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. This energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then radiated back into the atmosphere as heat. This process contributes to the warming of the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.

A niche refers to the specific space or habitat where an organism lives, as well as the role it plays within its ecosystem. It includes the organism's interactions with other species, its behavior, and the resources it utilizes. The niche of an organism is unique and specialized, allowing it to survive and thrive in its environment.

In a food chain, energy is transferred from one organism to another. As we move up the food chain, the energy available decreases. In this case, the seeds have 100,000 kJ of energy. The sparrow, being the next organism in the chain, will receive a portion of this energy. Since the owl is at the top of the chain, it will receive the lowest amount of energy. Therefore, the owl will receive 1,000 kJ of energy.

Heterotrophs are organisms that rely on obtaining energy from external sources, as they cannot produce their own energy through processes like photosynthesis. They acquire energy by consuming organic matter, decomposing dead organisms, engaging in parasitism, or consuming other heterotrophs. However, solar radiation is not a direct source of energy for heterotrophs. Instead, solar radiation (sunlight) is a source of energy for autotrophs (plants) that undergo photosynthesis to produce organic compounds, which then serve as food sources for heterotrophs.

Albedo is a measure of the percentage of light that is reflected by an object. It quantifies the ability of an object to reflect light rather than absorbing or transmitting it. Albedo is commonly used in the context of Earth's surface, where it refers to the amount of sunlight reflected by different surfaces such as ice, water, or land. A high albedo means that more light is reflected, while a low albedo means that more light is absorbed.