Trophic Levels

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, usually plants, that create their own food through photosynthesis and provide energy for the rest of the food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; it is the first level of consumers in a food chain.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; it is the second level of consumers in a food chain.

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers; it is the third level of consumers in a food chain.

Front

What does the term 'energy loss' mean in a food chain?

Back

Energy loss refers to the decrease in energy as it moves from one trophic level to the next, often due to metabolic processes and heat.

Front

Why are producers important in a food chain?

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Producers are important because they convert sunlight into energy, which is then available to all other organisms in the ecosystem.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

What is the first trophic level in a food chain?

Back

The first trophic level is occupied by producers, which are the organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis.

Front

How does energy flow in a food chain?

Back

Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and finally to tertiary consumers.