Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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What is a producer in an ecosystem?

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A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, such as plants and algae.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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What role do primary consumers play in the food chain?

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Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers; they are herbivores that obtain energy by consuming plants.

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What is the function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and making them available for producers.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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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 different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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How does energy flow in an ecosystem?

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Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and so on, with energy decreasing at each trophic level.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?

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As energy moves up the food chain, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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What is the significance of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?

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Phytoplankton are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, providing food and oxygen for other marine organisms.

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What impact does the loss of producers have on an ecosystem?

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The loss of producers can lead to a collapse of the food web, affecting all organisms that rely on them for energy.

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers; they are often carnivores at the top of the food chain.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2