5th Grade Unit 4 Energy and Matter in Ecosystems

Front

What is energy in an ecosystem?

Back

Energy in an ecosystem refers to the ability to do work or cause change, primarily derived from the sun and transferred through food chains.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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

Front

What are producers?

Back

Producers are organisms, like plants, that create their own food through photosynthesis and are the foundation of the food chain.

Front

What are consumers?

Back

Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on eating other organisms for energy.

Front

What are decomposers?

Back

Decomposers are organisms, like fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

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

Front

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

Back

Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What is an invasive species?

Back

An invasive species is a non-native organism that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem.

Front

What role does the sun play in ecosystems?

Back

The sun is the primary source of energy for all ecosystems, providing the energy needed for photosynthesis.

Front

What is the role of plants in an ecosystem?

Back

Plants, as producers, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.