Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is all the living and nonliving things interacting in a particular area.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that gets energy storage molecules by breaking down dead matter.

Front

What is a consumer?

Back

A consumer is an organism that needs to eat in order to get energy storage molecules.

Front

What role does sunlight play in photosynthesis?

Back

Sunlight allows trees to take in carbon from the air, which is used to make energy storage molecules.

Front

Which organisms carry out photosynthesis in a forest ecosystem?

Back

Plants are the organisms that carry out photosynthesis in a forest ecosystem.

Front

What is a producer?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own energy storage molecules, typically through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the difference between a primary consumer and a secondary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer eats producers (plants), while a secondary consumer eats primary consumers.

Front

How do decomposers contribute to an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to recycle energy.

Front

What is the role of the sun in an ecosystem?

Back

The sun provides energy that is essential for photosynthesis, which supports the food chain.

Front

What is the food chain?

Back

The food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.