Photosynthesis
Food Chains
Food Webs
Energy Pyramids
Potpourri
100
What does the word photosynthesis mean? (Hint: Break apart the word and give individual meanings of these parts)
to combine with light (photo means light and synthesis means combine/put together)
100
What is the initial source of energy for all life?
The sun
100
Why do food webs exist? How come there are not strictly food chains in nature?
Organisms typically feed on more than one type of food, therefore the chains interconnect.
100
About how much energy does each level pass on to the next level of an energy pyramid?
10%
100
What is the difference between an herbivore and a carnivore?
Herbivores are plant eaters; carnivores eat other animals (meat eaters)
200
What are the two main products of photosynthesis?
Oxygen and glucose (energy as well)
200
Why must all food chains start with a producer?
Producers can make their own food but consumers cannot
200
In a marine food web, what would happen if all of the phytoplankton were killed by a chemical spill in the water? (if it is the only producer in the ecosystem)
The entire food web would collapse because phytoplankton are producers and crucial to the survival the entire food webs because consumers cannot make their own food.
200
About how much of the energy they obtain does each level in an energy pyramid USE?
90%
200
Describe the role of a decomposer. Why are they vital to the existence of producers?
Breaks down dead organisms; returns nutrients to the soil for producers to use during photosynthesis
300
What are the 3 main ingredients necessary for photosynthesis to take place?
Carbon dioxide, water, sunlight/light energy
300
Name and describe the role of each link of the following food chain: clover -> mouse -> snake -> hawk -> coyote -> mold
clover: producer, makes own food mouse: 1st level consumer, herbivore, obtains energy from clover snake: 2nd level consumer, carnivore, obtains energy from mouse coyote: scavenger, eats snake when rotten/dead mold: decomposer, breaks down all animals once they have died, helping to return nutrients to the soil for producers to use
300
In a food web that includes hawks as 3rd level consumers that feed on squirrels and snakes, what might happen if the population of hawks INCREASES?
Less squirrels and snakes (might eventually wipe out these populations), hawks could starve OR begin feeding on other organisms if there are not enough squirrels and snakes for them to eat
300
What is the main concept that an energy pyramid is used to demonstrate?
The transfer of energy in a food chain or web
300
Give 3 examples of nonliving parts of a prairie ecosystem. Describe why they are important to the existence of the ecosystem.
Air, wind, water, soil, rocks, etc.
400
What are the tiny openings found on the bottom of leaves called? What do they let in? Out?
Stomata: they let in carbon dioxide, and out oxygen
400
Describe 3 food chains that exist that bring a slice of ham and pineapple pizza from the sun to your belly.
grain-pig-you (ham) pineapple-you (pineapple) grass-cow-you (cheese) tomato-you (sauce) wheat-you (crust)
400
In a food web that includes hawks as 3rd level consumers that feed on squirrels and snakes, what might happen if the population of hawks DECREASES?
Overpopulation of squirrels and snakes; hawks keep the number of these animals in check
400
What is the difference between an energy pyramid and a food pyramid?
Energy pyramid displays the transfer of energy from organism to organism in a food chain or web; a food pyramid tells us how many servings of different food groups we should consume on a daily basis - they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
400
Can there be both a scavenger and decomposer in a food chain? Explain.
Scavengers feed on dead/rotting animals but decomposers break them down. When the scavenger dies, the decomposers will break it down, returning nutrients to the soil.
500
What is the name of the pigment that gives leaves their green color? In what plant organelle is this pigment found?
Chlorophyll, found in CHLOROPLASTS
500
Describe how a human can take upon different roles in a food chain (besides producer, decomposer, and hopefully scavenger!). Give specific examples.
1st level: if eating a producer such as bananas 2nd level: if eating a herbivore such as a cow 3rd level: if eating tuna which may eat small fish that eat plankton
500
Should a food web include more or less producers than 1st level consumers in order to meet the energy needs of these organisms? Why?
MORE - only 10% of the producer's energy is passed on to the 1st level consumers, therefore 1st level consumers need plenty of producers to eat to obtain enough energy to survive
500
Why do scientists use a pyramid to show the amount of energy that exists in a food web? (Think why there are more producers on the bottom and less 3rd and 4th level consumers at the top.)
This is because very little energy is passed on from one level to the next, so there must be more of the organisms below each level in order for the higher level to obtain enough energy (For example, there must be more grass than cows because the cows are only taking in 10% of the grass' energy, so there has to be a lot of it for them to eat to get enough energy to survive.)
500
What might happen if the population of algae in a lake multiplies, covering the surface of the water, and blocking sunlight from reaching underwater plants?
The plants will not survive, therefore causing the entire ecosystem to collapse. If there are no producers, there are no 1st level consumers, no 2nd level consumers, and so on.
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