Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting with producers and moving up to consumers.

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Who are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms that can make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, primarily through the process of photosynthesis. Examples include plants and algae.

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What role do consumers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must eat other organisms (plants or animals) to obtain energy. They are classified as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

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What are decomposers?

Back

Decomposers are organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is sunlight, which is harnessed by producers to create food.

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What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.

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What is the difference between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?

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Herbivores eat only plants, carnivores eat only animals, and omnivores eat both plants and animals.

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Why are fungi important in an ecosystem?

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Fungi are important because they decompose dead organisms, breaking them down and recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth.

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Front

What is the role of sunlight in an ecosystem?

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Sunlight provides the energy necessary for photosynthesis, allowing producers to create food, which is then passed on to consumers.