Unit 3 Energy Transfer, Cycles, and Succession

Front

What is a pioneer species?

Back

A pioneer species is the first organism to colonize a barren environment in the process of ecological succession, such as lichen.

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What is primary succession?

Back

Primary succession is the ecological process that occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption.

Front

What is secondary succession?

Back

Secondary succession is the ecological process that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but soil remains, such as after a forest fire.

Front

What are herbivores?

Back

Herbivores are organisms that obtain energy by consuming only plants (producers).

Front

What are consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms for energy, including herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food using sunlight or chemical energy, such as plants.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the nutrient cycle.

Front

What is the energy pyramid?

Back

The energy pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy flow in an ecosystem, showing the energy available at each trophic level.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

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

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.