Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

Front

What is a producer?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, serving as the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must consume other organisms for energy.

Front

What is an omnivore?

Back

An omnivore is a consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Front

What is a biomass pyramid?

Back

A biomass pyramid is a graphical representation showing the total mass of living organic matter at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Front

What percentage of energy is typically transferred to the next trophic level?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food from non-living sources, such as sunlight or chemical energy.

Front

What is a consumer?

Back

A consumer is an organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy.

Front

What is a detritivore?

Back

A detritivore is an organism that feeds on dead organic matter, breaking it down into simpler substances.

Front

What is the role of herbivores in an ecosystem?

Back

Herbivores are primary consumers that eat plants, transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels.