4b-feeding relashionship Flashcards
What are feeding relationships, and why are they important?
A: Feeding relationships describe how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. They connect organisms as producers, consumers, and decomposers, ensuring ecosystem balance and nutrient cycling.
What are trophic levels?A:
Trophic levels represent the different stages in a food chain, showing the feeding position of organisms:
Trophic Level 1:
Producers (plants and algae that produce energy via photosynthesis)
Trophic Level 2:
Primary consumers (herbivores that eat producers)
Trophic Level 3:
Secondary consumers (carnivores that eat primary consumers)
Trophic Level 4:
Tertiary consumers (carnivores that eat secondary consumers)
Decomposers(trophic level 5):
Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead material, recycling nutrients
What is a food chain?A:
A food chain shows the linear flow of energy from one organism to another. Example: Grass → Rabbit → Fox
What is a food web, and how is it different from a food chain?
A: A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains, showing how energy flows through an ecosystem. Unlike a food chain, a food web illustrates that organisms have multiple feeding relationships.
what is Pyramid of Number:
Shows the number of organisms at each trophic level. It may not always be pyramid-shaped.
what is Pyramid of Biomass:
Shows the total mass of organisms at each trophic level. It is usually pyramid-shaped due to energy loss.
Pyramid of Energy: Shows the energy transferred at each trophic level, always pyramid-shaped because energy decreases as you move up.
what is Pyramid of Energy:
Shows the energy transferred at each trophic level, always pyramid-shaped because energy decreases as you move up.
Why is energy lost at each trophic level?A:
Energy is lost due to:
Respiration (as heat)
Movement
Excretion
Not all parts of the organism being eaten or digested
How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?A:
Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level. The rest is lost as heat, waste, or through life processes.
Practical: Investigating Feeding Relationships
Constructing a Food Web:
Method: Identify producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers within an ecosystem. Connect them using arrows that show energy flow.
Result: A complex diagram illustrating feeding relationships and energy flow.
Practical: Investigating Feeding Relationships
Investigating Energy Transfer:
Method: Measure the dry mass of organisms at different trophic levels to calculate biomass.
Result: A pyramid of biomass that shows energy loss as you move up trophic levels.
How do humans impact feeding relationships?A:
Human activities like hunting, fishing, habitat destruction, and introducing invasive species can disrupt food webs, leading to population imbalances.
