Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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Questions and Answers

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

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

What is a food chain?

A series of organisms in which energy is transferred from one organism to another.

What is phytoplankton?

Primary producers that are usually tiny floating algae that float near the surface of the ocean.

Why do energy and matter move through feeding relationships more complicated than a simple chain in most ecosystems?

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, through which both energy and matter move. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of role do decomposers and detritivores have in food webs?

They have vital roles in the movement of energy and matter through food webs. Signup and view all the answers

Because food webs are complex, _____

it is difficult to predict how they will respond to an environmental change. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic level?

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

What type of organism makes up the first trophic level?

Primary producers. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecological pyramid?

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

Is there a limit to the number of trophic levels in a food web, or the number of organisms on each level?

False Signup and view all the answers

How do ecological pyramids help analyze energy flow through trophic levels?

Pyramids of energy show the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or web. Signup and view all the answers

What does the shape of the pyramid of energy depend on?

The efficiency of energy transfer from one trophic level to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level?

On average, about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. 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

What is the amount of biomass in a trophic level determined by?

In part, by the amount of energy available at that trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pyramid of biomass?

A model that illustrates the relative amount of living organic matter in each trophic level of an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pyramid of numbers?

A model that shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

Is the pyramid of numbers similar to the pyramid of biomass?

True Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy flows in a one-way stream from primary producers to consumers in ecosystems.
This flow is represented by food chains and food webs.

Food Chain and Food Web

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms that transfers energy from one to another.
Food webs are complex networks of feeding interactions encompassing multiple food chains.

Primary Producers

Phytoplankton are primary producers and consist of small floating, photosynthetic algae found near the ocean surface.
They serve as a primary food source for small animal plankton.

Complexity of Feeding Relationships

Many animals consume a variety of food sources, leading to more complex energy transfer dynamics than simple chains.

Role of Decomposers and Detritivores

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.
Detritivores, like shrimp and crayfish, consume detritus, playing an essential role in nutrient cycling.

Trophic Levels

Trophic levels represent each step in food chains or webs, with primary producers at the first level.
Energy transfer theoretically has no limit in the number of trophic levels, but only a small percentage (about 10%) of energy is passed on to the next level.

Ecological Pyramids

Ecological pyramids model the relative amounts of energy or biomass at each trophic level.
The shape of energy pyramids is influenced by energy transfer efficiency between levels.

Energy Transfer and Biomass

Average energy transfer from one trophic level to the next is about 10%.
Biomass indicates the total living tissue at each trophic level and is measured in grams of organic matter.
The biomass available at a trophic level is partly determined by the energy present at that level.

Types of Pyramids

A pyramid of biomass illustrates the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level.
A pyramid of numbers shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level.
In some ecosystems, the pyramid of numbers may appear upside down due to a higher number of smaller consumers feeding on fewer larger producers, while the pyramid of biomass retains its shape.

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Explore the concept of energy flow within ecosystems through this flashcard quiz. Learn about food chains and how energy is transferred from primary producers to consumers in a one-way stream.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems - Chapter 4, Lesson 2

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