Food Webs + Energy Pyramids

Front

What does a food pyramid represent?

Back

A food pyramid represents the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation used to show the energy transfer from one organism to another along the food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers, typically herbivores that consume plants.

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, such as plants.

Front

How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What role do decomposers play in a food web?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that is defined by how an organism obtains its energy.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What is the significance of the 10% rule in energy transfer?

Back

The 10% rule indicates that only a small fraction of energy is passed on to the next trophic level, which limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers, typically carnivores or omnivores.