Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Front

What are decomposers?

Back

Organisms that break down dead and decaying matter, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

The process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

Back

The direction of energy flow between organisms.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

An organism that cannot produce its own food and must consume other organisms for energy.

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

They convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is cellular respiration?

Back

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Front

What is the significance of energy transfer in ecosystems?

Back

Energy transfer is crucial for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and supporting life.