Ecology: Energy and Matter Flow

What is the primary function of trophic levels in an ecosystem?

• To measure the speed of nutrient cycling

• To illustrate the feeding relationships and energy flow

• To determine the size of organisms

• To classify organisms based on their habitat

Which organisms are considered autotrophs in a terrestrial ecosystem?

• Fungi

• Zooplankton

• Plants

• Cows

What role do detritivores play in an ecosystem?

• They are primary consumers

• They consume dead organic matter

• They produce energy from sunlight

• They are top predators

In a food web, what is the significance of consumers eating more than one type of producer or consumer?

• It reduces biodiversity

• It creates a more stable ecosystem

• It limits the number of trophic levels

• It increases competition among species

What is primary production in an ecosystem?

• The number of consumers in a food web

• The energy lost at each trophic level

• The amount of solar energy converted to chemical energy by producers

• The total biomass of all organisms

According to the law of 10%, how much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

• 50%

• 25%

• 10%

• 1%

Why is there less energy available at higher trophic levels?

• Producers store all the energy

• Energy is converted to matter

• Higher levels have fewer organisms

• Energy is lost as heat at each level

How does eating more plant-based foods affect energy availability for humans?

• It makes energy transfer more efficient

• It has no effect on energy availability

• It increases energy availability

• It decreases energy availability

What is the main reason humans are considered omnivores?

• They rely on inorganic chemicals for energy

• They consume both plant and animal materials

• They only eat meat

• They only eat plants

What is the benefit of consuming plant material compared to animal material in terms of energy?

• Plant material offers more energy

• Plant material provides less energy

• Animal material is more energy-efficient

• There is no difference in energy content