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Questions and Answers
What is the primary source of energy for life in an ecosystem?
Which organisms obtain the last bits of available energy in an ecosystem?
Which term describes the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem?
What is the difference between weather and climate in an ecosystem?
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What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem?
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Which process involves the transfer of energy in a linear sequence from producers to consumers in an ecosystem?
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What defines an omnivore?
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Which organisms obtain their energy from dead matter or waste?
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What do detritivores/scavengers such as vultures and earthworms feed on?
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In a food chain, what does the first trophic level represent?
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What is the role of decomposers like bacteria and fungi in an ecosystem?
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How is energy transferred in a food chain?
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What is the primary function of photosynthesis?
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Which organisms are considered producers in the context of photosynthesis?
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What is the primary factor that affects primary productivity in plants?
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What is the main purpose of cellular respiration in organisms?
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Which process involves the conversion of carbon dioxide, water, and light energy into sugar and oxygen?
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What is the relationship between producers and consumers in terms of cellular respiration?
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What happens when a species is removed from an ecosystem according to the text?
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What is one effect of introducing a new species into an ecosystem, based on the text?
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Why do organisms only consume a small part of the energy stored in the organisms they eat?
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In the trophic levels, how much energy is typically passed on from one level to the next according to the 10-percent-law?
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How are energy units typically measured according to the text?
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If Phytoplankton were removed from the ecosystem, what would be a likely consequence?
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What percentage of energy from the Sun is available to Quaternary Consumers in the energy pyramid?
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In the context of ecological pyramids, what do the numbers in each layer represent?
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Why is less and less energy available as we move up the energy pyramid?
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Which trophic level receives 100% of the energy in the energy pyramid?
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What happens to most of the energy received by organisms in a trophic level?
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What is the main reason for decomposers feeding at each trophic level?
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Study Notes
Ecosystems and Energy Flow
- Human interactions with natural systems can have global consequences, and ecosystems play a crucial role in this.
- A system is a set of interconnected components that work together to achieve a common goal.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
- The Sun powers life in an ecosystem, and energy is transferred through feeding relationships (food webs).
- Producers convert the Sun's energy into chemical energy (glucose/sugar) through photosynthesis.
- Energy is moved throughout the ecosystem through the feeding relationships, and decomposers obtain the last bits of available energy.
Photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis is the process where the Sun's energy is converted into chemical energy (glucose/sugar) in plants.
- It occurs in plants (producers) and requires carbon dioxide, water, and light energy.
- The equation for photosynthesis is: carbon dioxide + water + light energy → sugar + oxygen.
Cellular Respiration
- Cellular respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis, where sugar is converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy.
- It occurs in both producers and consumers and is used for energy.
Primary Productivity
- Primary productivity is the rate at which producers photosynthesize, and it's affected by factors such as:
- Amount of water available to the plant
- Amount of sunlight available
- Carbon dioxide
- Trace elements (nitrogen, potassium)
Consumers
- Consumers can be divided into:
- Herbivores (eat plants)
- Carnivores (eat meat)
- Omnivores (eat both plants and animals)
- Detritivores/Scavengers (obtain energy from dead matter or waste)
- Decomposers (cause decay and release nutrients back into the environment)
Food Chains and Webs
- Food chains show how energy is transferred from one organism to another.
- A food chain does not exist in nature, but rather shows feeding relationships.
- Trophic levels are assigned levels in a food chain based on how an organism gets energy.
- Food webs are useful for figuring out what may happen when a species is removed or added to an ecosystem.
Energy Transfer
- Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun to autotrophs and then to various heterotrophs.
- Only about 10% of the energy taken in by the individuals at one trophic level is passed on to individuals at the next level.
- The rest of the energy is lost as heat energy.
Ecological Pyramids
- Ecological pyramids display relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems.
- There are three main types of ecological pyramids: energy, biomass, and numbers.
- Energy pyramids show the amount of energy available at each trophic level, with the bulk of the energy being lost as heat energy.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the classification of consumers in ecosystems, including herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores/scavengers, and decomposers. Learn about their roles in the food chain and nutrient recycling processes.
