Energy Flow in Trophic Levels Flashcard

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to higher trophic levels.

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What are trophic levels?

Back

Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by how organisms obtain energy. They include producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Front

What role do producers play in an energy pyramid?

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Producers, such as plants, are the first trophic level in an energy pyramid. They convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, providing energy for all other levels.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers. They are typically herbivores, such as rabbits or deer, and occupy the second trophic level.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers. They can be carnivores or omnivores, such as snakes or some birds.

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers. They are often top predators in an ecosystem, such as hawks or lions.

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How does energy flow through an ecosystem?

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Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and finally to tertiary consumers, decreasing at each level due to energy loss as heat.

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What happens to energy as it moves up the trophic levels?

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As energy moves up the trophic levels, it decreases due to energy being converted into biomass and heat, resulting in less energy available for higher levels.

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Why is there a smaller population at higher trophic levels?

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There is a smaller population at higher trophic levels because energy decreases at each level, limiting the number of organisms that can be supported.

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What is biomass in the context of energy pyramids?

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Biomass refers to the total mass of living matter at each trophic level, which represents the energy available to the next level.