1. Ecosystems TEST Review
Created by Jeff Clary
5/16/13

2. 1. What is a producer? Give three examples
A producer is an organism which “produces” its own energy. Most producers are
plants that use photosynthesis to capture sunlight and produce carbohydrates from
oxygen and water.
Examples: poison ivy, tulips, grass

3. 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

4. 3. What is a decomposer? Give an example.
A decomposer is an organism
which breaks down dead or decaying materials.
Examples: mushrooms, worms, bacteria

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. There are 3 components of biodiversity
9. What is biodiversity (cont’d)?
There are 3 components of biodiversity
A) Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and Rottweilers are all dogs—but they're not the same because their genes are different.
Beagle
Chihuahua
Rottweilers

12. There are 3 components of biodiversity
9. What is biodiversity (cont’d)?
There are 3 components of biodiversity
B) Diversity of species For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species.
Golden Skimmer
Meadow Beauty
Saki Monkey

13. There are 3 components of biodiversity
9. What is biodiversity (cont’d)?
There are 3 components of biodiversity
C) Variety of ecosystems Prairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of species living in it.
Paines Prairie
Florida Sand hill Pond
Hoh Rain Forest

14. 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

15. 11. What is a symbiotic relationship?
Symbiosis is a relationship between two different organisms in which at least one of the organisms benefits.

16. 12. What are the three types of symbiotic relationships
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.

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

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

19. 16. What is a biotic factor? Give two examples.
A biotic factor is a living factor in an ecosystem.
Examples: bacteria, palm trees, starlings

20. 17. What is an abiotic factor? Give two examples
An abiotic factor is the non-living parts of the ecosystem.
Examples: rocks, air, water

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

22. eagle mouse grasshopper grass
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?
Least Energy available (relies on finding
Other organisms for “dinner!”)
eagle
mouse
grasshopper
grass
Most Energy available (unlimited sunlight)
More energy info on next slide

23. Energy Pyramid