Energy Flow & Pyramid
What is the ultimate source of energy for nearly all ecosystems?
The Sun
What is the first trophic level?
Producers
What is population density?
The number of organisms in a given area
What is an ecological disturbance?
A sudden event that changes an ecosystem
What is the 10% rule?
10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level
What is the process called where plants convert sunlight into chemical energy?
Photosynthesis
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
They break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients
What is exponential growth?
Rapid population growth under ideal conditions
What is a biotic factor affected by disturbance?
Predators or Prey populations
What happens to the remaining 90% of energy?
It is lost as heat or used for life processes
What type of energy is stored in glucose made by producers?
Chemical Energy
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food web shows multiple connected food chains
What is logistic growth?
How can a wildfire affect succession?
It resets an ecosystem, allowing primary/secondary successions to begin
What is a keystone species?
A species that has a major impact on ecosystem structure
What does an energy pyramid represent?
The decrease of energy at each trophic level
What trophic level usually has the least biomass?
Tertiary consumers
What does the carrying capacity depend on?
Limiting factors like food, space, resources
What happens to biodiversity after a major disturbance?
It often decreases but may increase during recovery
How can removing a top predator affect an ecosystem?
It can cause prey populations to increase and disrupts the balance
Why is energy transfer between trophic levels inefficient?
Because energy is lost during heat processes and life activities
How does energy loss limit the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem?
Not enough energy remains to support additional levels
Why do populations rarely grow exponentially in nature?
Because resources become limited
Why can disturbances sometimes increase ecosystem stability long-term?
They promote diversity and prevent dominance by one species
How do energy flow and population size interact in an ecosystem?