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 primary consumers to secondary consumers.

Front

What are primary consumers?

Back

Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers (plants) to obtain energy. Examples include herbivores like rabbits and grasshoppers.

Front

What happens to energy as you move up the energy pyramid?

Back

As you move up the energy pyramid, the amount of energy available decreases due to energy loss at each trophic level, primarily through metabolic processes.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or energy pyramid that indicates the level of energy transfer from one group of organisms to another.

Front

What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the energy pyramid.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

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

Front

What do the arrows in a food web represent?

Back

The arrows in a food web represent the direction of energy flow, indicating who gets energy from whom.

Front

Why are there fewer organisms at higher trophic levels?

Back

There are fewer organisms at higher trophic levels because energy decreases at each level, limiting the number of organisms that can be supported.

Front

What is the difference between a primary consumer and a secondary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer eats producers (plants), while a secondary consumer eats primary consumers.

Front

How does removing a primary consumer affect the ecosystem?

Back

Removing a primary consumer can lead to an increase in plant populations, as there are fewer herbivores to consume them.