Energy Flow and 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

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

Back

The arrows in a food chain or web show the direction in which energy is flowing between organisms.

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

A tertiary consumer is an organism that occupies the third trophic level in a food chain, primarily feeding on secondary consumers and is usually a carnivore.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism, such as fungi or bacteria, that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Front

What type of organism is a primary producer?

Back

A primary producer is an organism, typically a plant or algae, that can produce its own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of the energy pyramid.

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What is a carnivore?

Back

A carnivore is an organism that primarily eats other animals.

Front

What is the role of herbivores in an ecosystem?

Back

Herbivores are organisms that consume primary producers (plants) and serve as a food source for carnivores.

Front

What is the significance of the top predator in an energy pyramid?

Back

The top predator is at the highest trophic level in an energy pyramid and has the least amount of energy available, as energy decreases with each trophic level.

Front

Can all tertiary consumers be classified as scavengers?

Back

No, not all tertiary consumers are scavengers; some are active hunters.

Front

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

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which energy flows, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.