Food Pyramids & Trophic Levels

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What is a food pyramid?

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A food pyramid is a graphical representation of the ideal quantity and types of food that should be consumed for a healthy diet, illustrating the relationship between different trophic levels.

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What are trophic levels?

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Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by how organisms obtain energy, including producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers.

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What is the role of producers in a food web?

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Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis and form the base of the food web.

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What is the difference between primary consumers and secondary consumers?

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Primary consumers eat only plants, while secondary consumers eat other consumers.

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What is a decomposer?

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Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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What percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?

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Approximately 10% of energy is passed on to each trophic level.

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What is an example of a primary consumer?

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An example of a primary consumer is a grasshopper, which feeds on plants.

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What is an example of a secondary consumer?

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An example of a secondary consumer is an owl, which may eat primary consumers like mice.

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How do food webs differ from food chains?

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Food webs are complex networks of interconnected food chains, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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What is competition in an ecosystem?

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Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, such as food or habitat.