ecology

Front

What is ecology?

Back

Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, including the relationships among organisms and the relationships between organisms and their physical surroundings.

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What is a decomposer?

Back

Decomposers are organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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What is a food pyramid?

Back

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

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

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

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, while the rest is lost as heat.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers (plants) and are the second trophic level in a food chain.

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What is a secondary consumer?

Back

Secondary consumers are carnivores that eat primary consumers and are the third trophic level in a food chain.

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What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

Tertiary consumers are carnivores that eat secondary consumers and are typically at the top of the food chain.

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What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

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

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