Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

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What is energy transfer in ecosystems?

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Energy transfer in ecosystems refers to the movement of energy through food chains and food webs, from one organism to another, as they consume and are consumed.

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What is a producer in an ecosystem?

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A producer is an organism that can make its own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

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What is a consumer in an ecosystem?

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A consumer is an organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms, which can be classified as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

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What is a herbivore?

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A herbivore is an organism that obtains energy by eating only plants.

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What is a carnivore?

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A carnivore is an organism that obtains energy by eating other animals.

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What is an omnivore?

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An omnivore is an organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals.

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What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to recycle energy within the ecosystem.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients are transferred among various organisms in an ecosystem.

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How does energy flow in a food chain?

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Energy flows in a food chain from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and so on, with energy decreasing at each trophic level.