Energy Transfer Through the Ecosystem

Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

by Theresa Brown

Multiple Select

Which of the following are considered biotic factors? Mark all that apply.

• deer

• wind

• water

• daisy

• fly

Multiple Select

Which of the following are considered abiotic factors? Mark all that apply. 

• dog

• mud puddle

• bird

• sunlight

• cat

Multiple Choice

Which level of the hierarchy of life is the most specific (as discussed on previous slides)?

• biosphere

• community

• organism

• cell

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is most likely a heterotroph?

• oak tree

• bat

• pumpkin

• scarecrow

Multiple Choice

What other word describes a primary consumer?

• herbivore

• producer

• carnivore

• decomposer

What is the difference between a decomposer and a detritivore?

​Detritivores are also often called scavengers, though there are differences.

​

​Detritivores feed on dead matter while decomposers breakdown organic matter.

Multiple Select

Name the predators from this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the prey from this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• plant

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

​Producers

​Producers are organisms that synthesize their own food using chemical processes such a photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

​

​They do not eat.

​

​Another term for producer would be autotroph.

Multiple Select

Name the producer(s) from this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• plant

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis in plants.

​

Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out life processes and lost in heat.

​

Only 10% of the energy ​from the Sun is transferred to each trophic level.

​https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

​Energy Transfer

​

​Types of Consumers

​A consumer is an organism that eats

other organisms for energy.

​

​Primary consumer - eats producers only

​

Secondary consumer - eats primary

consumers (may also eat producers)

​

​Tertiary consumer - eats secondary

​consumers (may also eat other trophic

​levels below)

​​PRO TIP: Find the longest food chain to the producers then count the number of steps it takes to get there.

Multiple Choice

In this food web, what are the mushrooms and the bacteria classified as? 

• producers

• primary consumers

• tertiary consumers

• decomposers

Multiple Select

Name the primary consumer(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the secondary consumer(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the tertiary consumer(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the herbivore(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the carnivore(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Multiple Select

Name the omnivore(s) in this food web. Mark all that apply. 

• hawk

• rabbit

• wolf

• robin

• caterpillar

Fill in the Blanks

Approximately

% of the available energy is passed from organisms at one trophic level to organisms at the next trophic level.  (Must be a number, no symbol.)