Ecosystem Dynamics and Energy Flow B.13B

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, and climate).

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What are producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers are organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, primarily plants and algae.

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What are primary consumers?

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Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers to obtain energy.

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What are secondary consumers?

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Secondary consumers are carnivores that eat primary consumers.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

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What is energy flow in an ecosystem?

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Energy flow refers to the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem, typically from producers to consumers.

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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 role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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How does an increase in secondary consumers affect primary consumers?

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An increase in secondary consumers typically leads to a decrease in primary consumers due to increased predation.

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What is biomass?

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Biomass is the total mass of living matter in a given area or volume, often measured in terms of energy.