Energy In Ecosystems

What is the function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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

• Decomposers produce energy through photosynthesis.

• Decomposers are primary producers that create food for herbivores.

• Decomposers compete with plants for sunlight and nutrients.

What is an example of a primary producer?

• A plant, such as grass or a tree.

• A lion, as a top predator.

• A mushroom, as a decomposer.

• A fish, as a consumer.

What is a food web?

• A simple chain of organisms that eat one another.

• A complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

• A type of food chain that only includes plants.

• A diagram that shows the energy flow in a single species.

What would happen to an ecosystem if all herbivores were removed?

• Plant populations would likely decrease due to overgrazing.

• Plant populations would likely increase due to reduced grazing pressure.

• Carnivore populations would thrive due to increased food availability.

• The ecosystem would remain unchanged as herbivores are not essential.

How do energy pyramids illustrate energy flow in ecosystems?

• Energy pyramids show the amount of energy available at each trophic level, typically decreasing from producers to top predators.

• Energy pyramids represent the number of organisms at each trophic level, increasing from producers to top predators.

• Energy pyramids illustrate the distribution of biomass across different ecosystems, showing equal energy flow.

• Energy pyramids indicate the speed of energy transfer between trophic levels, remaining constant throughout.

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

• Producers are organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

• Producers are organisms that consume other organisms for energy and nutrients.

• Producers are organisms that decompose dead matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

• Producers are organisms that rely on external sources for their energy and nutrients.

What happens to energy as it moves through a food chain?

• Energy increases as it moves up the food chain.

• Energy remains constant throughout the food chain.

• Energy decreases as it moves up the food chain due to energy loss at each trophic level.

• Energy is created at each trophic level.

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

• A food chain is a complex interconnection of multiple food chains, while a food web is a linear sequence of organisms through which energy flows.

• A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which energy flows, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.

• A food chain and a food web are essentially the same thing, both representing the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

• A food chain is a diagram that shows the energy flow in a single organism, while a food web shows the energy flow in a community.

What role do herbivores play in an ecosystem?

• Herbivores serve as primary consumers, transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.

• Herbivores are decomposers that break down dead organic matter.

• Herbivores are secondary consumers that feed on carnivores.

• Herbivores are producers that create energy through photosynthesis.

What are adaptations in animals?

• Traits that enhance an animal's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

• Physical characteristics that are always inherited from parents.

• Behaviors that animals learn over time to find food.

• Random changes in an animal's appearance that have no effect on survival.