Energy in Ecosystem Review

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

Front

Which organisms occupy the highest trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Back

Organisms that are at the top of the food chain, such as hawks and other predators, occupy the highest trophic levels.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants). Examples include rabbits and snails.

Front

Describe the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

Back

Energy flows in a one-way direction from producers to consumers to decomposers.

Front

What happens if a primary consumer is removed from an ecosystem?

Back

If a primary consumer is removed, the number of plants may increase due to reduced herbivory.

Front

What is a producer?

Back

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

Front

Define trophic level.

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil, making them available for producers.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

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

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.