Ecology

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.

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What is a decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

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What is a producer?

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A producer is an organism that can make its own food using sunlight or chemical energy, such as plants and some bacteria.

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What is a consumer?

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A consumer is an organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms. Consumers can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients circulate in an ecosystem.

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

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Typically, only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, with the rest lost as heat.

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What is biodiversity?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species and genetic diversity.

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What is an energy pyramid?

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An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem, typically decreasing as you move up.