Trophic Pyramids

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Front

Which organisms are considered primary consumers?

Back

Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers, such as rabbits, deer, and some insects.

Front

What is a trophic pyramid?

Back

A trophic pyramid is a graphical representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among the different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Front

What are the different levels of a trophic pyramid?

Back

The levels include producers at the base, followed by primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers at the top.

Front

Why are there fewer top predators in a trophic pyramid?

Back

There are fewer top predators because energy decreases as it moves up the trophic levels, limiting the number of organisms that can be supported.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, such as sea otters in kelp forests.

Front

What is a trophic cascade?

Back

A trophic cascade is an ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which leads to changes in the population sizes of species at lower trophic levels.

Front

How does energy transfer between trophic levels?

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Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with only about 10% of the energy being passed on to the next level, while the rest is lost as heat.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in trophic structures?

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Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, stability, and productivity, allowing ecosystems to better withstand changes and disturbances.