Ecosystems Review Flashcard #2

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, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

What happens to energy as you move up the energy pyramid?

Back

As you move up the energy pyramid, the amount of energy available decreases, meaning higher-level consumers receive less energy than those below them.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

Give an example of a first-level consumer.

Back

A grasshopper is an example of a first-level consumer, as it eats plants (producers).

Front

What is competition in an ecosystem?

Back

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, water, or habitat.

Front

What role do bacteria play in an ecosystem?

Back

Bacteria act as decomposers, breaking down dead matter and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is the energy pyramid?

Back

The energy pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy flow in an ecosystem, showing the energy available at each trophic level.

Front

What is a second-level consumer?

Back

A second-level consumer is an organism that eats first-level consumers; for example, a mouse that eats grasshoppers.

Front

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

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of energy flow, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.