Energy Pyramid Flashcard

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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.

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What are producers in an energy pyramid?

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Producers are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis, typically found at the base (first bottom) of the energy pyramid.

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What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or energy pyramid that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy, such as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

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What happens to the energy as it moves up the energy pyramid?

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As energy moves up the energy pyramid, it decreases significantly, with only about 10% of the energy being transferred to the next trophic level.

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Who are primary consumers?

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Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers (plants) and are found at the second level of the energy pyramid.

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What is the role of predators in an ecosystem?

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Predators are organisms that hunt and eat other organisms (prey), helping to maintain the balance of populations within an ecosystem.

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What is prey?

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Prey are organisms that are hunted and eaten by predators.

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How does the death of a species affect the food chain?

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The death of a species can disrupt the food chain, leading to population increases or decreases in other species that are directly or indirectly connected.

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What is the significance of the energy transfer efficiency in an ecosystem?

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Energy transfer efficiency is significant because it determines how much energy is available to support higher trophic levels, affecting the overall health and sustainability of the ecosystem.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.