Energy Pyramids

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to higher trophic levels.

Front

What happens to energy as you move up an energy pyramid?

Back

Energy decreases as you move up the pyramid due to energy loss at each trophic level, primarily through metabolic processes and heat.

Front

What do the arrows in an energy pyramid represent?

Back

The arrows represent the direction of energy flow from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What is the primary source of energy in an energy pyramid?

Back

The primary source of energy in an energy pyramid is sunlight, which is captured by producers (plants) through photosynthesis.

Front

If there are 1000 Kcal in producers, how much energy is typically available to primary consumers?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy (100 Kcal) is transferred to primary consumers (herbivores) from producers.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or energy pyramid that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy, such as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, etc.

Front

What are producers in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers are organisms, usually plants, that create their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the energy pyramid.

Front

What are primary consumers?

Back

Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers and occupy the second trophic level in an energy pyramid.

Front

What are secondary consumers?

Back

Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers and occupy the third trophic level in an energy pyramid.

Front

What is the 10% rule in energy transfer?

Back

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, while the rest is lost as heat.