Ecosystem Energy and Processes Quiz

What is the principal source of energy that sustains most ecosystems?

• Wind

• Sunlight

• Water

• Geothermal heat

In an open system, what can enter and exit?

• Only energy

• Only matter

• Both energy and matter

• Neither energy nor matter

What do autotrophs use to synthesize carbon compounds from simple inorganic substances?

• Internal energy sources

• External energy sources

• Chemical reactions

• Heat from the environment

Which process releases energy by oxidation of carbon compounds in cell respiration?

• Photosynthesis

• Fermentation

• Cell respiration

• Chemosynthesis

What is the role of heterotrophs in ecosystems?

• They produce their own energy from sunlight.

• They use carbon compounds obtained from other organisms.

• They convert sunlight into chemical energy.

• They oxidize inorganic molecules for energy.

What process do autotrophs use to synthesize organic compounds from simple inorganic substances?

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Decomposition

• Fermentation

Which of the following is an example of a saprotroph?

• Sunflower

• Fruit fly

• Bacteria

• Kookaburra

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• Produce energy from sunlight

• Break down dead organic matter

• Consume plant material

• Occupy the first trophic level

Which type of consumer feeds on both plant and animal material?

• Herbivore

• Carnivore

• Omnivore

• Decomposer

What is the term for the position an organism occupies within a feeding sequence?

• Trophic level

• Energy level

• Nutrient cycle

• Food chain