Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that makes its own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Front

What is a consumer in an ecosystem?

Back

A consumer is an organism that eats other organisms to gain energy.

Front

What is a decomposer in an ecosystem?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead organisms to gain energy.

Front

What happens to population growth as it nears carrying capacity?

Back

As a population nears its carrying capacity, resources become limited, and population growth slows until the birth rate and death rate are equal.

Front

If a disease eliminates a predator population, what is the immediate effect on its prey population?

Back

The prey population would likely increase due to reduced predation.

Front

What is the relationship between predator and prey populations?

Back

Predator and prey populations are interdependent; if one population decreases, the other may increase due to reduced predation or competition.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

How do changes in one population affect other populations in an ecosystem?

Back

Changes in one population can lead to increases or decreases in other populations due to interdependent relationships such as predation and competition.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem by breaking down dead organic matter.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

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