Matter and Energy in the Environment # 3

Front

What are decomposers?

Back

Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organic material, returning nutrients to the soil and recycling matter in the ecosystem.

Front

What is the ecological pyramid?

Back

The ecological pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of energy or biomass among trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up trophic levels?

Back

Energy decreases from bottom to top in the trophic levels due to energy loss at each level, primarily as heat.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for phytoplankton?

Back

The primary source of energy for phytoplankton is sunlight.

Front

How much energy is typically transferred between trophic levels?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What happens to the energy that is not passed on in the energy pyramid?

Back

The energy that is not passed on is lost to the environment as heat or is decomposed as waste.

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 are tertiary consumers?

Back

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

Front

What is the role of sunlight in ecosystems?

Back

Sunlight is the primary energy source for most ecosystems, driving photosynthesis in plants and phytoplankton.

Front

What is energy transfer in a food chain?

Back

Energy transfer in a food chain refers to the movement of energy from one trophic level to another as organisms consume one another.