Energy Flow in Ecosystems

This video tutorial by Ed Chapman covers the flow of energy through ecosystems, emphasizing that energy enters from the sun and exits as heat, without recycling. It explains the roles of producers, such as plants, in converting solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Consumers, or heterotrophs, rely on this energy by consuming plants or other animals. The video also discusses food chains and food webs, highlighting the complexity of energy transfer in ecosystems. Decomposers play a crucial role in breaking down dead material. The concept of energy pyramids is introduced, illustrating the 10% rule, where only a small fraction of energy is transferred to higher trophic levels.

What is the primary source of energy for ecosystems?

• The Moon

• The Ocean

• The Sun

• The Wind

How does energy leave an ecosystem?

• As water

• As heat

• As sound

• As light

What process do producers use to convert solar energy into chemical energy?

• Fermentation

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Decomposition

What are organisms called that cannot produce their own food?

• Autotrophs

• Decomposers

• Producers

• Heterotrophs

Which type of consumer eats only plant material?

• Decomposers

• Herbivores

• Omnivores

• Carnivores

What is a food web?

• A cycle of water

• A pyramid of energy

• A network of interconnected food chains

• A single food chain

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

• They store energy

• They break down dead material

• They produce energy

• They consume only plants

What shape is an energy pyramid?

• Circle

• Square

• Pyramid

• Rectangle

According to the 10% rule, how much energy is passed to the next trophic level?

• 10%

• 1%

• 50%

• 100%

Why are most food chains only a few steps long?

• Because energy is unlimited

• Because energy is lost at each step

• Because decomposers are at the top

• Because there are too many producers