Topic 4.2: Energy Flow

Question 1

Define trophic level

Answer 1

The position an organism occupies within a feeding sequence is known as a trophic level

Question 2

Define food chain

Answer 2

A food chain shows the linear feeding relationships between species in a community

Question 3

Define biomass

Answer 3

Biomass is the total mass of a group of organisms – consisting of the carbon compounds contained in the cells and tissues

Question 4

Define pyramid of energy

Answer 4

A pyramid of energy is a graphical representation of the amount of energy at each trophic level of a food chain

Question 5

What are the units for a pyramid of energy?

Answer 5

They are expressed in units of energy per area per time (e.g. kJ m–2 year–1)

Question 6

Define food web

Answer 6

A food web is a diagram that shows how food chains are linked together into more complex feeding relationships