Energy Flow in Ecosystems

This video by Mr. Andersen covers energy flow in ecosystems, focusing on the role of producers and consumers. It explains how energy from the sun is converted into usable forms through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. The video discusses productivity, including gross and net primary productivity, and how energy is measured and transferred through trophic levels. It highlights the concept of ecological pyramids and the efficiency of energy transfer, emphasizing the loss of energy at each level. The video also touches on biomass and the role of decomposers in ecosystems.

What is the primary source of energy for ecosystems on Earth?

• The Sun

• Volcanoes

• The Moon

• The Ocean

Which process do plants use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?

• Fermentation

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Digestion

What is the difference between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity?

• Gross is energy lost as heat; net is energy stored

• Gross is energy from consumers; net is from producers

• Gross is total energy converted; net is after respiration

• Gross is the energy after respiration; net is before

What does an ecological pyramid illustrate?

• The carbon footprint of an ecosystem

• The number of species in an ecosystem

• The flow of energy through trophic levels

• The water cycle in an ecosystem

How much energy typically transfers from one trophic level to the next?

• 50%

• 1%

• 10%

• 90%

Which biome is known for having high productivity?

• Savanna

• Tropical Rainforest

• Tundra

• Desert

What factor primarily causes changes in net primary productivity over time?

• Animal migration

• Seasons

• Human activity

• Volcanic eruptions

In an energy pyramid, where is most of the energy found?

• Tertiary consumers

• Producers

• Secondary consumers

• Primary consumers

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

• They produce energy from sunlight

• They recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem

• They increase the energy efficiency of the ecosystem

• They consume primary producers

What is 'standing crop' in the context of biomass?

• The biomass consumed by herbivores

• The biomass present at a specific time

• The biomass lost as waste

• The total biomass produced over a year