Ecosystems
Overview
A rock pool, a patch of rainforest and the open ocean look nothing alike, yet each is an ecosystem: a community of living things and the non-living surroundings they depend on, all linked by the steady flow of energy and the endless recycling of matter. Pull on one thread, such as removing a top predator or a single insect, and the whole web can shift in ways no one predicted. Understanding how an ecosystem fits together is the first step to managing it without breaking it.
In this lesson you will meet the building blocks of an ecosystem, from habitat and niche to producers, consumers and decomposers, and the biotic and abiotic factors that shape life. You will trace energy through food chains, food webs and trophic levels, learn why only about a tenth of it passes between levels, and follow carbon as it cycles through photosynthesis, respiration, feeding, decomposition and combustion.
Objectives
- 5.1.1 Describe the components of an ecosystem, limited to: (a) habitat (b) species (c) population (d) community (e) niche (f) prey (g) predator (h) apex predator.
- 5.1.2 Describe the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, limited to: (a) biotic (living): producers, primary, secondary and tertiary consumers and decomposers (b) abiotic (non-living): temperature, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, salinity, light, pH.
- 5.1.3 Describe biotic interactions, limited to: (a) native and invasive species (b) competition (c) predation (d) pollination.
- 5.1.4 Describe pollination, limited to: (a) the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma (b) insect pollination by an insect pollinator (c) wind pollination (d) pollination leads to fertilisation followed by seed and fruit formation. Knowledge of the structure and naming of flower parts are not required.
- 5.1.5 Describe the process of photosynthesis and the importance of chlorophyll, limited to: (a) synthesis of glucose using carbon dioxide and water (b) sunlight as the source of energy (c) chlorophyll to capture light energy (d) word equation: carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen.
- 5.1.6 Describe and interpret energy flow using food chains, food webs and trophic levels, limited to: (a) 10% of energy is passed between trophic levels (producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and tertiary consumer) (b) energy lost during life processes: movement, respiration, digestion and excretion.
- 5.1.7 Describe, interpret and explain ecological pyramids based on numbers and energy.
- 5.1.8 Describe the process of aerobic respiration, limited to: (a) break down of glucose in the presence of oxygen to release energy, with carbon dioxide and water as waste products (b) word equation: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water.
- 5.1.9 Describe the carbon cycle, limited to: (a) photosynthesis (b) respiration (c) feeding (d) decomposition (e) formation of fossil fuels (f) combustion.
Lesson Note
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Ecosystems. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- All the individuals of one species living in an area are called a: A. community B. population C. habitat D. niche Answer: B
- Which of these is an abiotic component of an ecosystem? A. a decomposer B. a producer C. salinity D. a herbivore Answer: C
- Approximately what percentage of energy passes from one trophic level to the next? A. 1% B. 10% C. 50% D. 90% Answer: B
- In a food chain the arrows show the direction of: A. energy flow B. water movement C. predator escape D. decay Answer: A
- Which process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? A. respiration B. combustion C. photosynthesis D. decomposition Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Ecosystems? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in JAMB, WAEC & NECO
