Trophic Level Flashcard

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem.

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What are producers?

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Producers are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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What are primary consumers?

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

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What are secondary consumers?

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Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

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What are tertiary consumers?

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Tertiary consumers are top predators that eat secondary consumers and are at the highest trophic level.

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What is energy transfer in a food chain?

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Energy transfer in a food chain refers to the movement of energy from one trophic level to the next, typically decreasing at each level.

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

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

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What is a population in ecological terms?

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A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

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What is a community in ecology?

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A community is a group of different species that live together in a particular area and interact with each other.

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.