EnvSci Fall Sem Exam Review

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a diagram that shows how energy moves through an ecosystem, illustrating the complex feeding relationships between organisms.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

Front

What happens to primary consumers if the producer population decreases?

Back

If the producer population decreases, the primary consumer population is likely to decrease as well, leading to a decrease in secondary consumers.

Front

How does energy move through an ecosystem?

Back

Energy is harnessed by producers and decreases with each trophic level transfer, meaning less energy is available to higher trophic levels.

Front

Who is the primary consumer in an aquatic food chain?

Back

In an aquatic food chain, the primary consumer is typically an organism that feeds on producers, such as caddisfly larvae.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem for use by producers.

Front

Define trophic levels.

Back

Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

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 nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What is the significance of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are crucial as they convert solar energy into chemical energy 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.