Food Chains and Food Webs Flashcards
Define Food Chain
Displays the transfer of energy between a set of species
Define Food Web
Integrates various food chains in an ecosystem to showcase various organisms.
Define Trophic level
The levels of a food chain. Only 10% of energy transfers to the next level.
Define Autotroph
An organism that can produce its own food using light, water carbon dioxide or other chemicals.
Define Heterotroph
An organism that has to rely on consuming other organisms for food.
Define Producer
Organisms that make their own food.
Define Consumer
Organisms that consume other organisms for food.
Identify and describe the primary source of energy for plants and animals in an ecosystem.
The primary source of energy for plants and animals is the Sun. Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis to producer their energy, which 10% of it gets taken up by consumers due to metabolic processes and waste removal processes.
What is biomass?
The total mass or total quantity of living organisms in an ecosystem.
What is a pyramid of biomass?
A pyramid that displays the biomass on each level, with producers on the base and the apex predators on the top. Only 10% of energy should make it to the next level.
What is a pyramid of numbers?
A pyramid that displays the population (high to low) of each animal on each level. The base (producers) should have the largest population, whilst the top (apex predators) should have the smallest population for a stable pyramid.