Maria Chapter 2 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the role of a producer in an ecosystem?

An organism that only eats plants

An organism that feeds on dead organisms

An organism that only eats animals

An organism that produces energy through photosynthesis (correct)

What is a herbivore?

Consumers that only eat plants

What defines an omnivore?

Consumers that eat both plants and animals

What is the role of a decomposer?

Break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

A food chain that shows one possible path along which energy can move through an ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

Define a consumer in an ecosystem.

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is a carnivore?

Consumers that only eat animals Signup and view all the answers

What is a scavenger?

A carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy Signup and view all the answers

What does an energy pyramid show?

The amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy Roles of Organisms

Producers obtain energy directly from sunlight or inorganic substances, forming the base of the food chain.
Consumers are organisms that gain energy by feeding on other living beings.

Categories of Consumers

Herbivores exclusively consume plants, playing a crucial role in energy transfer from producers to higher trophic levels.
Omnivores have a varied diet that includes both plants and animals, allowing them to occupy multiple roles in the food web.
Carnivores are meat-eaters that primarily consume other animals, influencing predator-prey dynamics.
Scavengers specifically consume dead organisms, aiding in decomposition and nutrient cycling.

Decomposers

Decomposers break down organic waste and dead organisms, returning essential raw materials to the ecosystem and facilitating nutrient recycling.

Food Structures

A food chain outlines a linear sequence depicting how energy is transferred through different organisms, highlighting predator-prey relationships.
A food web illustrates the interconnected feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showcasing the complexity of energy transfer.

Energy Flow

An energy pyramid visually represents the distribution of energy across different feeding levels in an ecosystem, indicating that energy decreases at each successive trophic level.

Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards on Chapter 2 of Maria. This chapter covers the energy roles of different organisms, including producers, herbivores, omnivores, and decomposers. Engage with definitions that clarify each type's role in the ecosystem.