Trophic Levels & Energy

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

An animal that only eats secondary consumers.

Front

Where do producers get their energy from?

Back

Producers get their energy from the sun.

Front

If a primary producer has 1,000 Joules of energy, how much energy does a primary consumer get?

Back

100 Joules.

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

An organism that cannot make its own food.

Front

How many calories are passed on from one trophic level to the next?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of energy is passed on.

Front

What is a primary producer?

Back

An organism that can make its own food, usually through photosynthesis.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

An organism that eats primary producers.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

An organism that eats primary consumers.

Front

What is the energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels?

Back

Energy transfer efficiency is typically around 10%.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.