4.2 Energy flow

Question 1

What is the initial energy source for almost all communities?

Answer 1

Light (it is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis)

Question 2

How do heterotrophs obtain their chemical energy?

Answer 2

By feeding.

Question 3

How is the energy stored in organic molecules released in heterotrophs and autotrophs?

Answer 3

It’s released through cellular respiration.

Question 4

What does trophic level mean?

Answer 4

The position an organism occupies within a feeding sequence.

Question 5

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Answer 5

Food chains - show linear feeding patterns between the species in a community.
Food webs - show interrelated feeding patterns.

Question 6

What % of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next? (Roughly)

Answer 6

10%.

Question 7

What is the impact of energy loss on an ecosystem?

Answer 7

Energy losses restrict the length of food chains

and limit the biomass of higher trophic levels