Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis. Examples include plants like grass and trees.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers. An example is a rabbit that eats grass.

Front

What is an omnivore?

Back

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals. Examples include humans and bears.

Front

What is a carnivore?

Back

A carnivore is an organism that primarily eats other animals. Examples include lions and hawks.

Front

What is a herbivore?

Back

A herbivore is an organism that only eats plants. Examples include cows and rabbits.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the amount of energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Front

How much energy is typically passed from one trophic level to the next?

Back

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

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

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

Front

What role do plants play in an ecosystem?

Back

Plants are producers that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.