Ecosystem Roles and Energy Flow

The video tutorial explores energy flow in ecosystems, focusing on trophic levels and the models used to represent energy transfer, such as food chains and food webs. It explains the roles of primary producers, consumers, and apex predators, and highlights the importance of decomposers in recycling nutrients. The concept of the 10% rule, which describes the energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels, is also discussed.

What is the primary purpose of energy flow models in ecosystems?

• To calculate the age of plants

• To measure the speed of animals

• To show how energy is transferred

• To identify the largest animals

Which organisms are considered primary producers?

• Plants and algae

• Rabbits

• Foxes

• Golden eagles

What do primary consumers primarily eat?

• Other consumers

• Producers

• Decomposers

• Apex predators

Which type of consumer is a fox?

• Apex predator

• Primary producer

• Primary consumer

• Secondary consumer

What do tertiary consumers primarily consume?

• Plants

• Primary producers

• Decomposers

• Other carnivores

Which of the following is an example of an apex predator?

• Rabbit

• Grizzly bear

• Algae

• Fox

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

• They produce energy

• They recycle nutrients

• They consume apex predators

• They are primary consumers

What is a food web?

• A single food chain

• A list of apex predators

• A diagram of plant growth

• A network of food chains

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

• 90%

• 25%

• 50%

• 10%

Why are there fewer individuals at higher trophic levels?

• Because they reproduce more

• Due to lack of food

• Due to the 10% energy transfer rule

• Because they are smaller