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Questions and Answers
What is the 10% rule?
What is the 10% rule?
The 10% rule states that only 10% of the available energy is transferred to the next level of the food chain. Most of the 90% is lost as heat.
How does the 10% rule relate to the number of organisms of each trophic level?
How does the 10% rule relate to the number of organisms of each trophic level?
As the trophic level gets higher, the number of organisms decreases due to the amount of energy being transferred.
If the producers have 1000 calories, how many make it to the secondary consumer?
If the producers have 1000 calories, how many make it to the secondary consumer?
10 calories.
What happens to the other 90% of the energy?
What happens to the other 90% of the energy?
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What are the trophic levels? Give an example of 2 organisms in each trophic level.
What are the trophic levels? Give an example of 2 organisms in each trophic level.
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What is the main source of energy for primary producers?
What is the main source of energy for primary producers?
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What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
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What is a keystone species? Give an example and explain why they are important.
What is a keystone species? Give an example and explain why they are important.
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Explain the first law of thermodynamics.
Explain the first law of thermodynamics.
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Explain the second law of thermodynamics.
Explain the second law of thermodynamics.
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Describe homeostasis.
Describe homeostasis.
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What is the difference between abiotic and biotic? Give 2 examples of each.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic? Give 2 examples of each.
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How do abiotic factors support biotic factors? Give one example.
How do abiotic factors support biotic factors? Give one example.
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How do biotic factors support abiotic factors? Give one example.
How do biotic factors support abiotic factors? Give one example.
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Explain 3 methods in which humans have managed ecosystems.
Explain 3 methods in which humans have managed ecosystems.
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Study Notes
10% Rule
- Only 10% of available energy transfers to the next trophic level; 90% is lost as heat.
Relationship to Trophic Levels
- Higher trophic levels have fewer organisms as energy decreases with each level, resulting in more autotrophs (producers) compared to heterotrophs (consumers).
Energy Transfer Example
- If producers have 1000 calories, secondary consumers receive only 10 calories due to the 10% energy transfer rule.
Energy Loss
- 90% of energy at each trophic level is lost as heat, highlighting inefficiency in energy transfer.
Trophic Levels and Organism Examples
- Trophic Levels:
- Producers (level 1): wheat, grass
- Primary Consumers (level 2): mouse, deer
- Secondary Consumers (level 3): snake, eagle
- Tertiary Consumers (level 4): wolf, owl
Primary Producers’ Energy Source
- Primary producers derive energy from the sun through photosynthesis, supplying energy for primary consumers.
Food Chain vs. Food Web
- A food chain illustrates direct energy flow between organisms, while a food web represents multiple interlinked food chains in a community.
Keystone Species
- Keystone species, like squid, significantly affect ecosystem balance by influencing other species’ survival and population dynamics.
First Law of Thermodynamics
- Energy is neither created nor destroyed; it merely changes form during transfer.
Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Energy quality diminishes as it moves up the trophic pyramid, resulting in lower usable energy at higher levels.
Homeostasis
- Homeostasis refers to an organism's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external environmental changes.
Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors
- Abiotic factors: non-living components (e.g., water, rocks).
- Biotic factors: living organisms (e.g., plants, animals).
Support of Biotic by Abiotic Factors
- Abiotic factors, such as sunlight, can limit plant growth; insufficient resources lead to environmental challenges.
Support of Abiotic by Biotic Factors
- Biotic factors can alter their surroundings; for example, deer populations affect water clarity by grazing near banks.
Human Ecosystem Management
- Human interventions include reintroducing endangered species, managing wildlife populations, and influencing resource availability.
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Description
Explore the concept of ecosystems with these flashcards focused on the 10% rule and its implications on energy transfer in food chains. Understand how this principle affects the number of organisms at each trophic level. Perfect for students studying ecology and environmental science.