Energy Flow Flashcard

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What is a trophic level?

Back

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

Front

Why is there a limit to the number of levels in a food chain?

Back

Energy is lost when you move up a trophic level, which limits the number of levels that can be supported.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants) and is typically herbivorous.

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What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers and is usually carnivorous or omnivorous.

Front

What does a pyramid of numbers represent?

Back

A pyramid of numbers compares the number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants and phytoplankton, convert sunlight or inorganic substances into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

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A food chain is a simple linear sequence of energy transfer, while a food web is a more complex network of multiple food chains that shows the interconnections between different organisms.

Front

What is an example of a tertiary consumer?

Back

An example of a tertiary consumer is a predator that eats secondary consumers, such as a hawk that eats snakes.