The Ecosystem

Front 1

What cycles through the living parts of an ecosystem?

Back 1

Oxygen and carbon dioxide cycle through the living parts of an ecosystem.

Front 2

What happens to energy as it glows through the food chain?

Back 2

Energy available to organisms lessens as it flows through the food chain.

Front 3

How is energy on Earth replenished?

Back 3

As long as the sun shines, energy on Earth can be replenished.

Front 4

What else do organisms require in order to survive?

Back 4

Organisms also require other materials in order to survive.

Front 5

What happens with these materials?

Back 5

Like energy, these materials move through the food chain, But unlike energy, they are not less available as they do so. These materials are naturally recycled.

Front 6

What is the most important material required by organisms?

Back 6

Water s the most important materials required by organisms. Water is recycled through precipitation and evaporation. These two processes are part of the water cycle.

Front 7

What happens during photosynthesis?

Back 7

During photosynthesis, green plants use energy from the sunlight to combine carbon dioxide and water to produce sugar and oxygen.

Front 8

What is the photosynthesis equation?

Back 8

Carbon dioxide + water + energy = Sugar + oxygen

Front 9

What is respiration?

Back 9

Respiration is the process by which energy is released in cells of living things or organisms.

Front 10

What happens during respiration?

Back 10

During respiration, sugar and oxygen combine, and carbon dioxide and water are produced.

Front 11

What is the respriration equation?

Back 11

Sugar + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + energy

Front 12

What is the oxygen used for when it released during photosynthesis?

Back 12

The oxygen released by plants during photosynthesis is used by organisms during respiration.

Front 13

What happens during the exchange called the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle?

Back 13

The carbon dioxide produced during respiration is exhaled by animals and may later be used by plants.

Front 14

Name another material that cycles through the ecosystem.

Back 14

Nitrogen is another material that cycles through the ecosystem.

Front 15

What is nitrogen used for?

Back 15

All living things need nitrogen in order the make the proteins they need to survive. Its pathway is called the nitrogen cycle.

Front 16

What must happen to nitrogen in order to use it?

Back 16

Nitrogen must first be changed into nitrogen compunds in order for organisms to use it. The change happens 2 ways.

Front 17

Name the first way Nitrogen must be changed into compounds.

Back 17

The first way nitrogen gas is changed into nitrogen compunds is by special bacteria and other microscopic organisms that live in the soil. The bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, grow in nodules on the roots of certain plants such as peas, soybeans and clover. These bacteria can change the nitrogen in the air into nitrogen compounds. The nitrogen compounds dissolve in water. Plants are then able to take them up when they take in water through roots. Animals eat the plants and take in the nitrogen compounds they need that way.

Front 18

Name the second way Nitrogen must be changed into compounds.

Back 18

The second way nitrogen can be changed from the gas in the atmosphere into a compound is during a lightning storm. When lightning flashes through the air, nitrogen combines with the oxygen in the air to form nitrogen compounds. These compounds combine with the rainwater to form nitrogen compounds the plants can use.

Front 19

What is pollution?

Back 19

Pollutuion is anything produced that harms the environment.

Front 20

How is it harmful?

Back 20

Some pollution disturbs the natural recycling of materials in the environment.

Front 21

How do humans pollute?

Back 21

Through certain activities, humans pollute the air, water, soil and groundwater. Pollution can negatively effect all of Earth's natural cycle.