Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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What is energy flow in ecosystems?

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Energy flow in ecosystems refers to the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What is a producer in an ecosystem?

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

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores, like grasshoppers and deer.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they are usually carnivores or omnivores, like snakes and mice.

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What is a keystone species?

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A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance; its removal can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem.

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

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Only about 10% of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow.

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What is a trophic level?

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

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What happens to energy as it moves up trophic levels?

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As energy moves up trophic levels, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.

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What is a herbivore?

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A herbivore is an animal that primarily eats plants, such as grasshoppers and deer.