Understanding Energy Pyramids Flashcard

Front

What happens to the remaining 90% of energy not transferred to the next trophic level?

Back

It is lost as heat or used for life processes.

Front

If a grassland ecosystem has 10,000 kJ of energy at the producer level, how much energy is available to primary consumers?

Back

1,000 kJ

Front

What does a numbers pyramid represent in an ecosystem?

Back

The number of individual organisms at each trophic level.

Front

What does a biomass pyramid show?

Back

It shows the total mass of living matter at each trophic level.

Front

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

Back

10%.

Front

Define an energy pyramid.

Back

A graphical representation showing the energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.

Front

Explain the concept of primary producers.

Back

Organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the energy pyramid.

Front

What is the role of primary consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

They are herbivores that consume primary producers for energy.

Front

Define secondary consumers.

Back

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.