Energy Flow and Ecosystem Roles

What is an autotroph in a food chain?

• An organism that consumes other organisms for energy.

• An organism that produces its own food.

• An organism that breaks down dead organic matter.

• An organism that only eats plants.

Approximately how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in an energy pyramid?

• 1%

• 10%

• 50%

• 90%

Why does a food web contribute to the sustainability of an ecosystem more than a simple food chain?

• It allows organisms to eat only one type of food.

• It reduces the total amount of energy in the ecosystem.

• It provides multiple food options for consumers, making the ecosystem more resilient to changes.

• It ensures that all organisms are producers.

What is the main function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• To produce new organic matter through photosynthesis.

• To consume living plants for energy.

• To break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the environment.

• To hunt and kill other animals.