Energy Transfer Through The Ecosystem Flashcards
What is the primary source of energy for ecosystems?
The sun.
True or False: All organisms in an ecosystem are either producers or consumers.
True.
Fill in the blank: Producers convert _____ energy into chemical energy.
solar.
What process do plants use to convert solar energy into chemical energy?
Photosynthesis.
Define ‘trophic level’.
A trophic level is the position an organism occupies in a food chain.
What are primary consumers?
Organisms that eat producers; typically herbivores.
Which trophic level consists of organisms that eat primary consumers?
Secondary consumers.
True or False: Decomposers play a crucial role in recycling nutrients in an ecosystem.
True.
What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?
To convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Fill in the blank: The efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is typically around _____%.
10.
What is a food chain?
A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
What is a food web?
A complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.
True or False: Energy is recycled in ecosystems.
False.
What happens to energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level?
It is lost as heat.
What are the three main types of ecological pyramids?
Pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy.
Define ‘biomass’.
The total mass of living matter in a given area or volume.
What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
To break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients.
Fill in the blank: The total energy available decreases at each _____ level.
trophic.
What is meant by ‘energy flow’ in an ecosystem?
The transfer of energy from one trophic level to another.
True or False: Herbivores are considered primary consumers.
True.
What is a top predator?
An organism at the top of the food chain with no natural enemies.
Fill in the blank: The process of converting dead organic matter into nutrients is called _____.
decomposition.
What is the significance of the 10% rule in energy transfer?
Only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.
Define ‘net primary productivity’.
The rate at which all the plants in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy.
What factors can affect primary productivity?
Light, temperature, water availability, and nutrient levels.
True or False: Carnivores are secondary consumers.
True.
What do you call organisms that break down waste and dead organisms?
Decomposers.
Fill in the blank: The _____ level is the first level of the food chain.
producer.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is a linear sequence, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.
True or False: Energy is lost at each trophic level primarily as heat.
True.
What is the main reason energy transfer is inefficient?
Energy is lost as metabolic heat during respiration and other processes.
Fill in the blank: Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms are called _____ consumers.
heterotrophic.
What is the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?
To produce their own food using sunlight or chemical energy.
Define ‘secondary productivity’.
The generation of biomass by heterotrophic organisms.
What is an example of a primary producer?
Plants.
Fill in the blank: The _____ pyramid illustrates the total energy available at each trophic level.
energy.
What is the main function of primary consumers?
To consume producers and convert their energy into biomass.
True or False: All organisms at the same trophic level have the same energy content.
False.
What is ‘trophic cascade’?
A phenomenon where changes in one trophic level cause ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.
Fill in the blank: The _____ level consists of organisms that eat herbivores.
secondary.
What is the effect of increased primary productivity on an ecosystem?
It can support more consumers and increase biodiversity.
Define ‘energy pyramid’.
A graphical representation showing the flow of energy through a food chain.
What happens to energy as it moves up the trophic levels?
It decreases due to energy loss at each level.
Fill in the blank: Organisms that feed on both plants and animals are called _____.
omnivores.
What is the primary energy source for producers?
Solar energy.
True or False: Energy can be created and destroyed in an ecosystem.
False.
What is the primary factor limiting the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem?
Energy availability.
Fill in the blank: The total amount of energy captured by photosynthesis is known as _____ productivity.
gross.
What is the role of a tertiary consumer?
To eat secondary consumers.
True or False: Energy flows in a linear direction through an ecosystem.
True.
What is ‘biomagnification’?
The increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms at higher trophic levels.
Fill in the blank: The _____ process involves the breakdown of organic matter by decomposers.
decomposition.
What is the primary purpose of the nitrogen cycle in ecosystems?
To convert nitrogen into forms usable by plants.
Define ‘nutrient cycling’.
The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.
What is a ‘keystone species’?
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Fill in the blank: The _____ level includes organisms that are typically predators.
tertiary.
True or False: The number of organisms typically decreases at higher trophic levels.
True.
What is ‘energy efficiency’ in the context of ecosystems?
The ratio of energy output to energy input at each trophic level.
Fill in the blank: The _____ level is the last in a food chain and consists of top predators.
quaternary.
What is a ‘detritivore’?
An organism that feeds on dead organic matter.
True or False: Primary producers are always plants.
False.
What type of organisms are typically found at the base of an energy pyramid?
Producers.
Fill in the blank: The _____ efficiency of a trophic level can be influenced by the type of organisms present.
energy.
What is the main source of energy for chemosynthetic organisms?
Chemical energy from inorganic compounds.
Define ‘primary succession’.
The process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists.
What role do fungi play in ecosystems?
They act as decomposers, breaking down organic matter.
Fill in the blank: The _____ level in a food chain typically contains the least biomass.
top.
What is the impact of invasive species on energy transfer in ecosystems?
They can disrupt food webs and alter energy flow.
True or False: In an ecosystem, energy is recycled but nutrients are not.
False.
What is ‘secondary succession’?
The process of ecological change that occurs in an area where soil is present but has been disturbed.
Fill in the blank: An ecosystem’s _____ is determined by the interactions between its biotic and abiotic components.
structure.
What are ‘herbivores’?
Organisms that primarily consume plant material.
True or False: Energy transfer is 100% efficient.
False.
What is the significance of the carbon cycle in ecosystems?
It regulates the flow of carbon among the atmosphere, land, and oceans.
Fill in the blank: The _____ of energy through an ecosystem is a key factor in determining its productivity.
flow.
What is the main consequence of energy loss at each trophic level?
Fewer organisms can be supported at higher trophic levels.
True or False: All ecosystems have the same energy flow patterns.
False.
What is a ‘food chain diagram’?
A visual representation showing the feeding relationships between organisms.
