Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow between different organisms.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

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What is an energy pyramid?

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An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy at different trophic levels in an ecosystem, with producers at the base and top predators at the top.

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What are producers?

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Producers are organisms, like plants and phytoplankton, that create their own food through photosynthesis and are the first level of the food chain.

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What are consumers?

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Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on eating other organisms for energy.

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What are decomposers?

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Decomposers are organisms, like maggots and fungi, that break down dead and decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

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What happens if the number of producers decreases in a food web?

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If the number of producers decreases, it can affect all organisms in the food web, as they rely on producers for energy.

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.