Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Question 1

What is a producer?

Examples

Answer 1

A producer is an organism that makes its own food.

Ex: Leaves, tree, flowers.

Question 2

What is a consumer?

4 types and examples of each.

Answer 2

A consumer is an organism that doesn’t make its own food.
Omnivores- Bears, birds, humans.
Carnivores- Lion, wolf, tiger.
Herbivores- Deer, horse, cow.
Decomposers- Earthworm, mushroom, beetle.

Question 3

What is a decomposer? Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem?
Examples

Answer 3

A decomposer breaks down dead organisms to provide nutrients to plants.
Mushroom, worm, beetle.
They are important because they provide nutrients to help plants grow.

Question 4

Energy levels

Answer 4

1. Grass- most energy, 1,000 kal.
2. Grasshopper- less energy, 100 kal.
3. Badger- little energy, 10 kal.
4. Hawk- least energy, 1 kal.

Question 5

Predict what might happen to the ecosystem if the spiders contracted a deadly virus.

Answer 5

If the spider got a deadly virus, it would affect whatever eats the spider, which is the bird. Whatever eats the bird and whatever eats that will get that virus. Then, the ecosystem would run out of food and it would die off.

Question 6

What is the main source of energy in an ecosystem?

Answer 6

The sun.