Trophic Levels
What is a trophic level?
step in a nutritive series, or food chain, of an ecosystem. The organisms of a chain are classified into these levels on the basis of their feeding behaviour.
What is energy flow?
the movement of energy through a system, typically within an ecosystem, where energy is transferred from one organism to another along a food chain,
What is an energy pyramid?
a diagram that shows how energy moves through an ecosystem
What is matter cycling?
he continuous movement and transformation of matter within an ecosystem,
What is a producer?
an organism that can make its own food, also known as autotrophs. Producers are the foundation of food chains and energy transfers in ecosystems.
Name the first trophic level.
Producers
Explain how energy flows.
At the bottom (base) of the pyramid are the producers, who use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to make their own food.
primary consumers (herbivores), make up the second level.
Secondary and tertiary consumers (omnivores and carnivores) move up in sections of the pyramid.
What does the base of the pyramid represent?
Producers.
Organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis
Called autotrophs
Most energy; 100%
Give an example of matter cycling in nature.
Water cycle
Rock cycle
nitrogen cycle
rock cycle
Life cycle
What is a consumer?
an organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other plants and/or animals to get energy.
What do producers do?
Make their own food.
Receive 100%.
Also called autotrophs.
What happens to energy in a food chain?
Decreases by 10% at each energy level (going up the pyramid)
How much energy is transferred to the next level?
10%
Why is matter important in ecosystems?
It is what provides living organisms what they need in order to exist. Matter is constantly cycling through the environment.
Example: as organisms consume, grow, die, and decompose, ensuring that nutrients are continuously available to support life at all levels of the food web.
ecosystem could not sustain themselves.
What is a decomposer?
An organism, often a bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem.
What is a primary consumer?
Organisms that eat the producers.
Receive 10% of energy from producers
Why are energy pyramids shaped like a triangle?
to illustrate the fact that as you move up the trophic levels energy, biomass or number decreases.
Bottom section is the larges due to having the most energy.
Why are energy pyramids shaped like a triangle?
Tho show the flow of energy decreasing (lower) as you go up the pyramid.
To show the bigger levels of energy are at the bottom and smallest at the top.
How do decomposers fit in?
Decomposers have a huge role in the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
Decomposers break apart dead organisms into simpler inorganic materials...this makes nutrients available to primary producers.
How do organisms depend on each other?
In many ways, for example, creating a web of interactions within an ecosystem.
For food, shelter, and the cycling of nutrients
Organisms depend on each other for survival
Define a tertiary consumer.
an organism that obtains its nutrition by eating primary consumers and secondary consumers.
On energy pyramid, it is found above (on top) of secondary consumers.
How do energy pyramids illustrate energy loss?
the pyramid shows as you go up the pyramid, the space is smaller, showing the energy amount is less.
How do energy pyramids illustrate energy loss?
The top part of the pyramid is much smaller than the bottom.
The shape of the triangle decreases as it goes higher, representing less energy being transferred to those organisms.
Describe the water cycle's role in ecosystems.
Provides nutrients that are essential for producers
Carries nutrients through erosion to other organisms
Regulates climate, making environments adequate for survival and sustainability
Explain symbiosis.
Symbiosis is defined as a relationship or interaction between two different organisms that share similar habitat.
There are three types of behaviors observed in symbiotic relationships:
1.Mutualism
2.Commensalism
3.Parasitism.