Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

The process by which primary producers use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, releasing oxygen.

Front

What is the energy available at the producer level?

Back

90,000 kg of energy.

Front

What is chemosynthesis?

Back

The process by which primary producers use energy stored in chemical bonds of hydrogen sulfide to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars.

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A linear series of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Front

Who are the secondary and tertiary consumers in a hydrothermal vent food web?

Back

Ratfish and octopuses.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem, showing how different food chains are interconnected.

Front

What role do primary producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

They convert sunlight or chemical energy into organic matter, forming the base of the food web.

Front

What is cellular respiration?

Back

The process by which organisms convert sugars into energy, using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

Front

What are trophic levels?

Back

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, representing the flow of energy from producers to various levels of consumers.

Front

What is biomass?

Back

The total mass of living matter in a given area or volume, often used to measure energy in ecosystems.