Sect 1.1 Living Things & Their Environment

Entertainment is not a basic need that must be provided by an organism's habitat. Basic needs for survival include shelter and protection, food, and water. These are essential for the physical well-being and survival of an organism. However, entertainment is not a necessity for survival but rather a form of recreation or leisure that can enhance an organism's well-being and quality of life.

An ecosystem is different from a community because it includes both abiotic factors (non-living components such as air, water, soil, and sunlight) and biotic factors (living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms) in a specific area. A community, on the other hand, refers to a group of interacting organisms of different species living together in the same location. Therefore, the correct answer is that ecosystems contain both abiotic and biotic factors in an area.

An organism is an individual living being that can carry out all the basic functions of life, such as eating, growing, reproducing, and responding to its environment. In this case, a deer prancing about is a specific example of an organism because it is a single deer displaying the characteristics and behaviors of a living organism.

A population refers to a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific area at a specific time. It represents the total number of individuals of a particular species in a given area. This term is used to study and analyze the dynamics of a specific species within an ecosystem. It helps researchers understand factors such as population growth, distribution, and interactions with other species.

The correct answer is "Bacteria on a decaying log." Bacteria are living organisms that play an important role in the decomposition process. In a forest ecosystem, they break down organic matter such as fallen logs, releasing nutrients back into the soil. This process is crucial for nutrient cycling and the overall health of the ecosystem. Therefore, bacteria on a decaying log are considered a biotic factor as they are living organisms that interact with the other components of the forest ecosystem.

A habitat refers to the specific place or physical environment where an organism lives and obtains the necessary resources for survival, growth, and reproduction. It includes factors such as climate, food availability, shelter, and other biotic and abiotic components that are essential for the organism's existence. This term focuses on the physical characteristics of the environment rather than the organism's role or interactions within it.

Deserts are not an example of an ecosystem in Michigan because Michigan is not known for having desert environments. Michigan is more commonly associated with ecosystems such as lakes, wetlands, and forests, which are all abundant in the state. Deserts typically have arid climates and sparse vegetation, which is not characteristic of Michigan's climate and landscape.

The temperature of the water is an abiotic factor in this ecosystem because it is a non-living component that affects the living organisms in the lake. The temperature of the water can impact the growth and reproduction of the algae and other organisms, as well as the metabolic rates and behavior of the fish. It can also influence the availability of dissolved oxygen in the water, which is crucial for the survival of all organisms in the ecosystem.

The correct answer is population, community, ecosystem. This sequence starts with the simplest level, which is the population, referring to a group of individuals of the same species in a given area. Then, it progresses to the community, which includes all populations of different species that interact in a particular area. Finally, the sequence ends with the ecosystem, which encompasses all living organisms and their physical environment, including the interactions between them.

All the trees within a forest represent a population, as they belong to the same species living in a specific area. A population is a group of individuals of the same species interacting and reproducing within a given habitat. In contrast, a community includes all the different species (plants, animals, fungi, etc.) in an area, and an ecosystem encompasses the community along with its physical environment, including non-living elements.