M2L2 Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

Multiple Choice

An _____ is an organism that collects energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to make food.

• heterotroph

• chemotroph

• lithotroph

• autotroph

​Autotrophs are the foundation of all ecosystems because they make energy available for all other organisms.

Multiple Choice

A _______, or consumer, is an organism that gets its energy by consuming other organisms

• heterotroph

• lithotroph

• chemotroph

• autotroph

Multiple Choice

An ____ only eats plants

• herbivore

• carnivore

• omnivore

• detritivore

Multiple Choice

A _____ eats animals

• herbivore

• carnivore

• omnivore

• detritivore

Multiple Choice

An _____ eats both plants and animals

• herbivore

• carnivore

• omnivore

• detritivore

Multiple Choice

A ______ eats fragments of dead matter

• herbivore

• carnivore

• omnivore

• detritivore

​Eat fragments of dead matter, returning the nutrients to the soil, air, and water.

​​Detritivore

​Break down dead organisms by releasing digestive enzymes.

​​Decomposers

Open Ended

What are some examples of how scientists model the flow of energy through an ecosystem?

​Show one possible path of energy flow through an ecosystem.

​​Food Chains

​Shows the many interconnected food chains and pathways in which energy flows through an ecosystem.

​​Food Webs

​(Also called an energy pyramid) It can show the relative amounts of energy, biomass, or numbers of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

​​Ecological Pyramid

Multiple Choice

Each step in a food chain, food web, or energy pyramid is called a ...

• trophic level
• food source
• biological level
• energy source

Organisms at each level get their energy from the trophic level below them.

Multiple Choice

_____ is the total mass of living matter at each trophic level.

• Food web
• Nutrient cycling
• Energy flow
• Biomass