Energy Flow in Ecosystems Quiz and Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

Energy flows through an ecosystem in a 1-way stream, from primary producers to various consumers.

What is a food chain?

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

What are phytoplankton?

A mixture of floating algae that are some primary producers in some aquatic food chains.

What is a food web?

The network of feeding interactions, a series of food chains. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean that energy flows in a '1-way stream' through an ecosystem?

Producers receive chemicals from light rays, 1st-level consumers eat producers, 2nd-level consumers eat 1st-level consumers, and 3rd-level consumers eat 2nd-level consumers. Signup and view all the answers

What are zooplankton?

A diverse group of small, swimming animals. Signup and view all the answers

What might happen to the Everglades ecosystem if there were a sudden decrease in the number of crayfish?

It would affect the rest of the animals/organisms in the web. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic level?

Each step on a food chain or food web. Signup and view all the answers

What are ecological pyramids?

They show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 types of ecological pyramids?

The 3 types of ecological pyramids are the pyramids of energy, pyramids of biomass, and pyramids of numbers. Signup and view all the answers

What do the 3 types of ecological pyramids illustrate?

Pyramids of energy show the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web. A pyramid of biomass illustrates the relative amount of living organic matter available at each trophic level in an ecosystem. A pyramid of numbers shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is biomass?

The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

On average, what proportion of the energy in an ecosystem is transferred from one trophic level to the next? Where does the rest of the energy go?

On average, about 10% of the energy in an ecosystem is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Most of the remaining energy is released into the environment as heat. Signup and view all the answers

If 100% of the energy is available at the first trophic level of an energy pyramid, what percentage of that energy is available at the highest trophic level?

0.01% of energy will be left at the highest trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Energy flows in a 1-way stream from primary producers to consumers, not cycling back.
Primary producers convert light energy into chemical energy, serving as the foundation of food chains.

Food Chain and Food Web

Food chain consists of a linear sequence where energy is transferred through various organisms eating one another.
Food web represents a complex network of interconnected food chains, illustrating multiple feeding relationships.

Key Organisms

Phytoplankton are floating algae that serve as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, crucial for energy flow.
Zooplankton are small, swimming animals that play significant roles in aquatic food chains as consumers.

Trophic Levels

Trophic levels are defined as each step in a food chain or food web, illustrating energy transfer among organisms.
Energy transfer from one trophic level to the next averages about 10%, with losses primarily as heat.

Ecological Pyramids

Ecological pyramids display the distribution of energy, biomass, and numbers across trophic levels.
Types of ecological pyramids include:
- Pyramid of energy: Shows energy availability at each level.
- Pyramid of biomass: Represents the total living organic matter at each level.
- Pyramid of numbers: Illustrates the count of organisms at each level.

Effect of Ecosystem Changes

A sudden decrease in crayfish population in the Everglades would disrupt the food web, impacting various predators and the overall ecosystem balance.

Energy Availability at Trophic Levels

If 100% of energy is at the first trophic level, only 0.01% remains at the highest trophic level due to energy loss at each stage.

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Description

Explore the concepts of energy flow in ecosystems with these flashcards. Understand the roles of primary producers, consumers, and the food chain. Perfect for reviewing key terminology and their definitions related to energy dynamics in nature.