9: The Tundra and Ecological Pyramids

Question 1

How can we graphically represent the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another?

Answer 1

through ecological pyramids

Question 2

What type of organisms break down organic matter into simpler, inorganic matter?

Answer 2

Decomposers! the inorganic matter is then available to producers

Question 3

What percentage of energy moves from one trophic level to another?

Answer 3

about 10%
- the remaining 90% is released to the environment as heat, a form of energy that the ecosystem cannot use

Question 4

What law explains the unidirectional flow of energy in the ecosystem?

Answer 4

The second law of thermodynamics

Question 5

In what units is energy measured?

Answer 5

kcal (kilocalories), cal (calories), or Joules

Question 6

What does an energy pyramid represent?

Answer 6

it can be used to represent the amount of energy present at each trophic level of a food web (kcal) or the amount of biomass at each trophic level of a food web (kg)

Question 7

What is biomass?

Answer 7

the total mass of living material; energy can be converted to biomass and biomass can be converted to energy

Question 8

What units are used to measure biomass?

Answer 8

kg (kilograms) or g (grams)

Question 9

How are decomposers depicted on energy pyramids?

Answer 9

if they are depicted, they go to the side