Energy Flow

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain or web represent?

Back

They show what direction the energy is flowing between organisms.

Front

What is a kilocalorie (kCal)?

Back

A kilocalorie (kCal) is a unit of energy used to measure the energy content in food.

Front

If there are 1000 kCal available for producers in trophic level #1, how much energy is available for secondary consumers in trophic level #3? (Hint: use the Rule of 10s)

Back

10 kCal.

Front

What is an apex predator?

Back

An apex predator is an animal at the top of the food chain that has no natural predators.

Front

Which animal is an example of an apex predator?

Back

Hawk.

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food, typically through photosynthesis, like plants.

Front

What is a consumer in an ecosystem?

Back

A consumer is an organism that eats other organisms for energy.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an herbivore that eats producers.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is a carnivore that eats primary consumers.

Front

What is the Rule of 10s in energy transfer?

Back

The Rule of 10s states that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next.