Energy Pyramids

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to top predators.

Front

Who are the producers in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers are organisms, like plants and algae, that create their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the energy pyramid.

Front

What role do herbivores play in an energy pyramid?

Back

Herbivores are primary consumers that eat producers. They occupy the second trophic level in the energy pyramid.

Front

What are carnivores in the context of an energy pyramid?

Back

Carnivores are secondary or tertiary consumers that eat other animals. They occupy higher trophic levels in the energy pyramid.

Front

What is a top predator?

Back

A top predator is an organism at the highest trophic level in an energy pyramid, which has no natural predators and typically has the least amount of energy available.

Front

How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

Front

If there are 1000 Kcal of energy in producers, how much energy do primary consumers receive?

Back

Primary consumers (herbivores) would receive approximately 100 Kcal of energy.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the energy pyramid?

Back

As energy moves up the energy pyramid, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.

Front

What is the relationship between producers and consumers in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers provide energy for consumers; without producers, consumers cannot survive.

Front

What impact does the decline of a species have on an energy pyramid?

Back

The decline of a species, such as a primary consumer, can negatively affect all organisms in higher trophic levels that depend on it for energy.