Energy Pyramid
Food Webs
Biodiversity & Keystone Species
Miscellaneous
Ecology Review
100
Where does all energy in an ecosystem originate from?
The sun
100
What is the difference between a food chain and food web?
A food chain shows one pathway of energy. A food web shows multiple connected pathways.
100
What is biodiversity?
the variety of organisms in an area
100
Where could you include the sun in a food web?
Arrows would point from the ______ to the ______.
Arrows would point from the sun to producers/plants.
100
Which of the following is an abiotic factor?
Bacterial Disease, Precipitation (aka rainfall), Snake Competition, Prey Availability
Precipitation!
200
What is a producer? Give an example.
Use energy from the sun to make their own food; a plant
200
What do the arrows in a food web represent?
Energy transfer
200
What is a Keystone Species?
A species that other species in the ecosystem depend on to survive
200
What is the role of a decomposer in an ecosystem?
Breaks down/eats dead organisms (detritus) and returns nutrients to soil
200
What is mutualism?
A relationship where two different species help and benefit each other
300
What happens to the amount of energy as you move up in an energy pyramid?
It decreases.
(Bonus: 90% lost to environment between each level)
300
Draw a food chain that includes a mouse, grass, and owl.
grass -> mouse -> owl
300
What happens if a Keystone species is removed from its ecosystem?
the ecosystem collapses
300
Which trophic level(s) will herbivores be in?
They are primary consumers
300
Which biome do we currently live in?
Deciduous Forest
400
Starting from the bottom, list the four trophic levels of an energy pyramid in order.
Producer, Primary Consumer, Secondary Consumer, Tertiary Consumer
400
List the trophic level(s) of the snake in the following 
Secondary and Tertiary Consumer
400
How do keystone predators support biodiversity?
They prevent populations from growing out of control that would otherwise destroy the ecosystem (maintain balance).
400
Which of the following could not be included in a food web, and why?
Sun, Bacteria, Mushroom, Water, Human
Water; not living and no energy transfer
400
Describe an example of parasitism.
Many answers.
Ex. Ticks feeding on dogs
500
Considering an energy pyramid, why are there fewer owls in a forest than grass/trees?
Energy is lost between each trophic level (meaning there will be less top predators); not enough energy to support a large number of owls
500
Identify the error in the following food web:
Arrows pointing to grass are incorrect. Energy/Arrows should go from grass to rabbit and grass to mouse.
500
Describe one example of how a Keystone species affects its environment.
Many possible answers:
Ex. sharks control fish populations, beavers provides homes for many animals
500
What do each of the following eat:
1. herbivores, 2. carnivores, 3. omnivores
1. only plants, 2. only meat, 3. plants and meat
500
List all six levels of organization from smallest to largest.
Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere