Food webs and trophic pyramids

Front

What is lost to the environment at each trophic level?

Back

Heat is lost to the environment at each trophic level.

Front

Which organism would be placed at the top of an energy pyramid in a swamp ecosystem?

Back

The American alligator would be placed at the top of the energy pyramid.

Front

What do you call an organism that obtains energy by consuming plants?

Back

An organism that obtains energy by consuming plants is called a herbivore.

Front

Which organisms have the most energy available in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers have the most energy available in an energy pyramid.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for producers in an ecosystem?

Back

The primary source of energy for producers is sunlight.

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 role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

How does energy flow through an ecosystem?

Back

Energy flows through an ecosystem from producers to various levels of consumers, with energy decreasing at each trophic level.

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 energy and nutrients flow, while a food web is a more complex network of interconnected food chains.