Producers and consumers
These organisms make their own food using sunlight.
producers
Energy starts from this source in most ecosystems.
the sun
Organisms that break down dead matter
The level with the most energy in a pyramid.
bottom level (producers)
A simple path of energy transfer.
food chain
The process plants use to make food from sunlight.
photosynthesis
Energy moves in this direction through ecosystems.
one direction
two examples of decomposers
fungi
bacteria
insects
Energy decreases as you move this direction.
up the pyramid
Many food chains connected together.
food web
An example of a producer found in the ocean.
algae
Energy is lost as this type of energy at each level.
heat
What decomposers return to the soil.
nutrients
About this percent of energy moves to the next level.
10%
What arrows in a food chain show.
energy flow
What are the three types of consumers
herbivore
carnivore
omnivore
True or false
Energy can go back to the sun
False
Why decomposers are important to ecosystems.
recycle nutrients
The top level of an energy pyramid usually contains these consumers.
top predators (tertiary consumers)
grass → rabbit → fox. What is the rabbit?
primary consumer
how do consumers help producers
producers breath out carbon dioxide that helps plants through photosynthesis
True or false:
Once an organism dies energy gets destroyed.
False
This happens if decomposers didn’t exist.
dead matter would pile up / nutrients wouldn’t cycle
Why there are fewer organisms at the top.
less energy is available
Why food webs are more realistic than food chains.
organisms have multiple food sources