Unit 7 SOL Review: Ecology

Front

What is the primary source of energy in an ecosystem?

Back

The primary source of energy in an ecosystem is the sun, which is harnessed by producers through photosynthesis.

Front

Define producers in an ecological context.

Back

Producers are organisms, primarily plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, converting solar energy into chemical energy.

Front

What is the energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels?

Back

Energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels is typically around 10%, meaning only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed to the next.

Front

If the producer level contains 7400 kcal, how much energy is available to the primary consumers?

Back

740 kcal.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next.

Front

Explain the concept of a food chain.

Back

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

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

If the snake level contains 9.4 kcal, how much energy did the producers create?

Back

940 kcal.

Front

Define the term 'biomass'.

Back

Biomass refers to the total mass of living matter within a given area or volume, often used to measure the energy available in an ecosystem.

Front

What is the difference between a food web and a food chain?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains, showing how energy and nutrients circulate in an ecosystem.