Question

1. provide examples of biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
2. what are autotrophs and heterotrophs, and how do they obtain energy?
3. differentiate between herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, and decomposers.

Explanation:

• Question 4: Biotic factors are living components. For example, plants (like oak trees) are biotic as they are living organisms that perform photosynthesis. Animals (such as deer) are also biotic as they consume plants or other animals. Abiotic factors are non - living. Sunlight is abiotic as it is a form of energy that is not alive. Soil is abiotic; it is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, air, and water, but it has no life in itself (though it supports life).
• Question 5: Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food. Plants are autotrophs. They obtain energy through photosynthesis. Using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, they convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose). Heterotrophs cannot produce their own food. Animals are heterotrophs. They obtain energy by consuming other organisms. For example, a lion (a carnivorous heterotroph) eats a deer to get energy, and a rabbit (a herbivorous heterotroph) eats plants.
• Question 6: Herbivores are organisms that eat only plants. A cow is a herbivore. Carnivores eat only other animals. A wolf is a carnivore. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. A human is an omnivore (in a general sense). Detritivores consume dead organic matter (detritus). Earthworms are detritivores; they eat decaying leaves and other organic debris. Decomposers break down dead organisms into simpler substances. Fungi (like mushrooms) and bacteria are decomposers. They play a crucial role in recycling nutrients in an ecosystem.

Answer:

• Question 4: Biotic: plants (e.g., oak trees), animals (e.g., deer). Abiotic: sunlight, soil.
• Question 5: Autotrophs (e.g., plants) produce food via photosynthesis (using sunlight, \(CO_2\), \(H_2O\) to make glucose). Heterotrophs (e.g., animals) get energy by consuming other organisms.
• Question 6: Herbivores (e.g., cow - plant - only eaters), carnivores (e.g., wolf - animal - only eaters), omnivores (e.g., human - plant and animal eaters), detritivores (e.g., earthworm - dead organic matter eaters), decomposers (e.g., fungi, bacteria - break down dead organisms).