Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Which of the following are examples of producers in a marine ecosystem?

• Zooplankton

• Snails

• Urchins

• Phytoplankton

What is another term for organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis?

• Consumers

• Herbivores

• Autotrophs

• Carnivores

Which term describes an organism that cannot produce its own food and must obtain energy by eating other organisms?

• Autotroph

• Producer

• Consumer

• Decomposer

What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next in an energy pyramid?

• 1%

• 10%

• 50%

• 100%

What is the primary role of herbivores in an energy pyramid?

• Produce their own food

• Eat other consumers

• Decompose dead organisms

• Consume producers

Why does the amount of available energy decrease at each successive level of an energy pyramid?

• Energy is destroyed

• Organisms use energy for daily life processes

• Energy is converted into matter

• Energy is absorbed by the sun

If producers start with 90,000 kcal of energy, how much energy would be available to carnivores (secondary consumers) in the next level?

• 900 kcal

• 9,000 kcal

• 90 kcal

• 0.9 kcal

What is another name for apex predators at the top of the food chain?

• Primary consumers

• Secondary consumers

• Tertiary consumers

• Producers

What are organisms that produce their own food called?

• Consumers

• Heterotrophs

• Producers

• Decomposers

What is another term for a consumer?

• Autotroph

• Producer

• Decomposer

• Heterotroph