Ecology part 1 (Bio/H. Bio)

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, typically plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers; they are usually carnivores.

Front

Define scavenger.

Back

A scavenger is an organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter, such as roadkill.

Front

What is a detritivore?

Back

A detritivore is an organism that feeds on decomposing organic material, breaking it down into smaller particles.

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy flow in an ecosystem, showing the energy available at each trophic level.

Front

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

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next due to energy loss through metabolic processes.

Front

What is the role of top predators in an ecosystem?

Back

Top predators are at the highest trophic level and have no natural enemies; they help regulate the populations of other species.