Ecosystem Energy Questions

Which trophic level of an ecosystem has the highest amount of available energy?

• A. Decomposer

• B. Consumer

• C. Carnivore

• D. Producer

A simple energy pyramid is shown. How much of the total energy in the grass and seeds is transferred to the snake?

• A. 1%

• B. 100%

• C. 0.1%

• D. 10%

A food web in a prairie ecosystem is shown. Which of the following is NOT a flow of energy seen in this ecosystem? Select one:

• A. Prairie sage → rabbit → eagle

• B. Prairie sage → rabbit → grasshopper → snake

• C. Prairie sage → prairie dog → coyote

• D. Prairie sage → grasshopper → squirrel → eagle

A pond food web is shown. Which of the organisms in the pond food web would have the LEAST amount of energy flowing toward it? Select one:

• A. Turtle

• B. Duckweed

• C. Heron

• D. Fish

Which is the BEST explanation of why 90% of the energy is not passed to the next trophic level?

• 90% of the energy is used to provide plants with energy needed to survive.

• 90% of the energy is passed to tertiary consumers only.

• 90% of the energy is used for life processes.

• 90% of the energy is returned to the decomposers to be put back into the soil.

A food web is shown below. Which of the following organisms has roles as BOTH a primary consumer and a secondary consumer?

• A. Black bear

• B. Raccoon

• C. Puma

• D. Deer

Which of the following organisms would receive the lowest amount of energy from the producer?

• A. Whiptail

• B. Rat

• C. Frog

• D. Deer

Which statement below BEST supports why this model is shaped as a pyramid?

• A. The top level consumers produce almost all of the energy available, and pass it down to the remaining trophic levels.

• B. The producers contain the most available energy, and only a fraction of that energy is passed on to each successive layer.

• C. Fifty percent of the energy is used for life activities, and the other fifty percent is passed to the next trophic level.

• D. Ten percent of the energy is used for life activities, and the other ninety percent is passed to the next trophic level.

Identify the primary consumers in the aquatic food web below. Select TWO correct answers.

• Seal

• Krill

• Squid

• Plankton

• Seagull

Which food chains correctly show the flow of energy in the food web? Select TWO correct answers.

• A. Grasses → rabbit → lizard → hawk

• B. Wheat → mouse → snake → mountain lion

• C. Lizard → snake → mouse → wheat

• D. Grasses → grasshopper → lizard → hawk

• E. Tree → deer → snake → rabbit