An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecosystems can be of various sizes and can be marine, aquatic, or terrestrial.

1. Define an ecosystem.

2. Name two types of ecosystems mentioned in the passage.

3. Explain how biotic and abiotic components interact in an ecosystem.

Grass → Rabbit → Fox

1. What is the producer in this food chain?

2. Identify the primary consumer.

3. What role does the fox play in this food chain?

Labels: Grass, Rabbit, Fox, Hawk, Snake, Grasshopper

1. Which organisms are herbivores?

2. Identify a predator-prey relationship in the food web.

3. How would the removal of the rabbit affect the food web?

Word bank: sunlight, producers, consumers, decomposers

1. Energy in an ecosystem primarily comes from ___.

2. ___ convert light energy into chemical energy.

3. ___ obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

4. ___ break down dead material and recycle nutrients.

Organisms: Grass, Hawk, Mouse

Constructed Food Chain:

Explain how pollution and deforestation affect ecosystems and food chains. Include at least two examples in your explanation. [10 marks]

1. Describe the trend in the rabbit population over the five years.

2. How does the fox population change in response to the rabbit population?

3. What might be a reason for the changes observed in the grass population?

Definitions:

- An organism that makes its own food

- An organism that eats plants

- An organism that eats meat

- An organism that eats both plants and animals