5.07 Quiz: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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Questions and Answers

What happens when energy is captured and stored in a form organisms can use?

It moves from the 'eaten' to the 'eater' when one organism eats another.

How are primary producers and consumers linked in ecosystems?

They are linked through feeding relationships.

How does energy flow through an ecosystem?

In a one-way direction, from primary producers through various consumers.

What is a food chain?

A series of organisms in which energy is transferred from one organism to another. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a short food chain in Gorongosa National Park.

Antelope feeds on grass, lions feed on antelope. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems?

Tiny floating algae called phytoplankton. Signup and view all the answers

What do zooplankton eat in aquatic ecosystems?

They eat phytoplankton. Signup and view all the answers

How many steps are big marine animals often from primary producers in aquatic ecosystems?

Four or five steps. Signup and view all the answers

Why are feeding relationships in most ecosystems more complicated than a simple chain?

Because many animals eat more than one kind of food. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

A network of feeding interactions that includes all the food chains in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a food web is and how it differs from a food chain.

A food web is a network that includes all the food chains in an ecosystem. It shows the interconnectedness of different organisms and their feeding relationships. In contrast, a food chain is a linear sequence that shows the transfer of energy from one organism to another, typically starting with a primary producer. Signup and view all the answers

What role do decomposers and detritivores play in food webs?

Decomposers and detritivores have vital roles in the movement of energy and matter through food webs. Decomposers convert dead material to detritus, which is then eaten by detritivores. Decomposition also releases nutrients that can be used by primary producers. Signup and view all the answers

Why do most producers die without being eaten?

Most producers die without being eaten because they are not consumed by organisms higher up in the food chain. They may decompose and release nutrients that can be used by other organisms, but they are not directly consumed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the detritus pathway in a food web?

The detritus pathway in a food web involves the conversion of dead material to detritus by decomposers. The detritus is then consumed by detritivores, such as shrimp and crayfish. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of decomposers in nutrient cycling?

Decomposers play a crucial role in nutrient cycling by breaking down dead organic matter and releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem. Without decomposers, nutrients would remain locked within dead organisms. Signup and view all the answers

How do short-term natural disturbances, like floods, impact food webs?

Short-term natural disturbances, like floods, may cause dramatic short-term changes in food webs, but they usually have little or no long-term effect. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of long-term human-caused disturbances that can transform ecosystems?

Examples of long-term human-caused disturbances that can transform ecosystems include climate change and habitat destruction. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic level in a food chain or food web?

A trophic level is each step in a food chain or food web. It represents the position an organism occupies in a feeding hierarchy. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecological pyramid and how does it illustrate trophic levels?

An ecological pyramid is a model that illustrates the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. It visually represents the decreasing amount of energy or biomass as you move up the trophic levels. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why only a small portion of energy stored in one trophic level is available to organisms at the next level?

Organisms use up much of the energy they acquire for life processes, such as respiration, movement, growth, and reproduction. The remaining energy is released into the environment as heat. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

When energy is captured and stored in a form organisms can use, it flows through the ecosystem, supporting life.

Primary Producers and Consumers

Primary producers (e.g., plants, algae) convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, which is then consumed by primary consumers (herbivores).
Primary producers and consumers are linked in ecosystems, with producers forming the base of the food web.

Energy Flow and Food Chains

Energy flows from one organism to another through consumption, forming a food chain.
A food chain is a series of organisms each consuming the previous one, with energy transferred from one trophic level to the next.
Example of a short food chain in Gorongosa National Park: grass → impala → leopard.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Primary producers in aquatic ecosystems include phytoplankton, seaweed, and seagrass.
Zooplankton in aquatic ecosystems eat phytoplankton.

Complexity of Feeding Relationships

Feeding relationships in most ecosystems are more complicated than a simple chain, involving multiple predators and prey.
A food web is a network of interconnected food chains, showing the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
Decomposers and detritivores play a crucial role in food webs, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients.

Decomposers and Detritivores

Most producers die without being eaten and enter the detritus pathway, which decomposers and detritivores break down, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Decomposers play a key role in nutrient cycling, releasing essential nutrients for other organisms.

Disturbances and Ecosystems

Short-term natural disturbances like floods can impact food webs by disrupting energy flow.
Long-term human-caused disturbances (e.g., habitat destruction, climate change) can transform ecosystems, altering feeding relationships and nutrient cycling.

Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids

A trophic level represents a level in a food chain or web, with producers at the base and top predators at the apex.
An ecological pyramid illustrates trophic levels, with each level supporting fewer organisms than the one below it.
The main reason only a small portion of energy stored in one trophic level is available to organisms at the next level is due to energy loss as heat and incomplete transfer.

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Description

Test your knowledge on how energy flows through an ecosystem! Learn about the transfer of energy from primary producers to consumers and understand the one-way direction of energy flow. Explore the variations in feeding relationships across different ecosystems.