Energy Pyramid 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 various levels of consumers.

Front

What are the trophic levels in an energy pyramid?

Back

The trophic levels in an energy pyramid include producers (plants), primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores), and tertiary consumers (top predators).

Front

Which trophic level has the largest population size?

Back

Producers have the largest population size in an energy pyramid.

Front

What is the 10% rule in ecology?

Back

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, while the rest is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes.

Front

Who are the tertiary consumers in an energy pyramid?

Back

Tertiary consumers are the top predators in an energy pyramid that eat secondary consumers.

Front

What role do producers play in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers, such as plants, synthesize their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the energy pyramid.

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What are decomposers and their role in an ecosystem?

Back

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

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How do primary consumers obtain energy?

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Primary consumers obtain energy by eating producers (plants), which convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Front

What is the significance of herbivores in an energy pyramid?

Back

Herbivores are primary consumers that play a crucial role in transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the energy pyramid?

Back

As energy moves up the energy pyramid, it decreases significantly due to the 10% rule, resulting in fewer organisms at higher trophic levels.