Biology 12C Energy Pyramids and Food Webs

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to top consumers.

Front

Define biomass in the context of ecosystems.

Back

Biomass refers to the total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume, often measured in terms of dry weight.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy, such as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Front

Explain the difference between a population and a community.

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area, while a community is made up of different populations of various species interacting in a particular environment.

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

Front

What are primary consumers?

Back

Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers; they are typically herbivores that obtain energy by consuming plants.

Front

Define secondary consumers.

Back

Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth and maintains ecosystem health.

Front

How does energy transfer between trophic levels?

Back

Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient; typically, only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed on to the next, with the rest lost as heat.