Ecology Flashcard #2

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow.

Front

What is the energy pyramid?

Back

The energy pyramid illustrates the energy loss at each trophic level in an ecosystem, typically showing that only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next level.

Front

Define decomposer.

Back

Decomposers are organisms, like fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is the difference between a population and a community?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area, while a community includes all the different species interacting in that area.

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains energy.

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

Front

What is the significance of energy transfer in ecosystems?

Back

Energy transfer is crucial for maintaining the balance of ecosystems, as it supports the growth and survival of organisms at different trophic levels.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers (plants) and are the second trophic level in the energy pyramid.