How Ecosystems Work?

Because plants make their own food, they are called _______________.

• producers

• consumers

_________________ is the process in which energy from the sun enters an ecosystem when plants use sunlight to make sugar molecules

• photosynthesis

• cellular respiration

A heterotroph is the same thing as a(an)

• producer

• consumer

• autotroph

• plant

When animals use the food that comes from a plant to get energy, it is known as

• photosyntheisis

• chemosynthesis

• cellular respiration

• succession

The important process usually carried out by bacteria and fungi that recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem is called

• decomposition

• photosynthesis

• cellular respiration

• nitrogen fixation

Chemosynthesis occurs

• at the top of a mountain
• at the bottom of the ocean
• in a volcano
• in space only

Which term is used to refer to the many feeding relationships that are possible in an ecosystem?

• energy pyramid
• food web
• food chain
• energy transfer

Each step in the transfer of energy through a food chain or food web is known as a __________________.

• food chain

• food web

• trophic level

Which of the following is correctly arranged from the lowest trophic level to the highest trophic level?

• bacteria, frog, eagle, raccoon

• algae, deer, wolf, hawk

• grass, mouse, snake, eagle

• grass, bass, minnow, snake

The energy lost between trophic levels

• can be captured only by parasitic organisms

• cools the surrounding environment

• is lost most often as heat

• evaporates in the atmosphere