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 organism to another through food chains and food webs, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants) to obtain energy. Examples include herbivores like rabbits and deer.

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What is a producer?

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A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Examples include plants and algae.

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What is a decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the soil. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow between different organisms.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients are passed from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

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What role do herbivores play in an ecosystem?

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Herbivores are primary consumers that feed on plants, playing a crucial role in transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.

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What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

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Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food (e.g., plants), while heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms for energy (e.g., animals).

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers in a food chain. They are often top predators in an ecosystem.

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What is the significance of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil, making them available for producers, and help in the breakdown of organic matter.