AP Biology energy flow and trophic levels
Explore the concepts of energy flow and trophic levels in ecosystems, crucial for understanding ecological interactions and food webs.
Quiz(18 questions)
1. Which of the following is a primary consumer?
Terms in this Study Set(22)
What is energy flow?
The transfer of energy through a food web from producers to consumers.
Producers are also known as?
Autotrophs; they create their own energy via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Primary consumers are?
Herbivores that eat producers, forming the second trophic level.
True or False: Decomposers are not part of trophic levels.
True, because they recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Difference between gross and net primary productivity.
Gross is total energy produced; net is what's available after respiration.
Fill in the blank: Energy flow is __________ through trophic levels.
inefficient; typically, only about 10% is transferred to the next level.
What is a trophic pyramid?
A graphical representation showing the distribution of energy among trophic levels.
Top predators are found at which trophic level?
The highest trophic level, often the fourth or fifth.
Which organism is a primary producer?
Plants, algae, and some bacteria that perform photosynthesis.
True or False: All ecosystems have the same number of trophic levels.
False, because some ecosystems are more complex and can have more levels.
Calculate: If a plant produces 1000 kcal, how much is available to primary consumers?
About 100 kcal, assuming 10% efficiency.
What role do decomposers play?
They break down dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil.
Difference between herbivores and carnivores.
Herbivores eat plants; carnivores eat other animals.
What is a food web?
A complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.
Primary consumers eat what?
They eat primary producers, such as plants and algae.
True or False: Energy is recycled in ecosystems.
False, energy flows in one direction and is lost as heat.
Fill in the blank: Biomass decreases __________ the trophic levels.
as you move up; less energy is available for higher levels.
What is secondary productivity?
The generation of biomass by consumers from eating producers.
Which trophic level has the highest biomass?
Producers, as they capture the most energy from the sun.
Difference between omnivores and herbivores.
Omnivores eat both plants and animals; herbivores only eat plants.
What percentage of energy is typically lost between trophic levels?
About 90% energy is lost due to metabolic processes.
Define trophic cascade.
A process where changes in one trophic level affect multiple levels below.
Questions in this Study Set(18)
1. Which of the following is a primary consumer?
2. What occurs to energy as it moves up the trophic levels?
3. Which organism is at the top of the trophic pyramid?
4. What is the main function of decomposers in an ecosystem?
5. Which term describes organisms that produce their own food?
6. In general, what percentage of energy is lost at each trophic level?
7. What is a food chain?
8. Which statement is true about biomass?
9. What is secondary productivity?
10. What happens during a trophic cascade?
11. True or False: Energy in ecosystems is recycled.
12. Primary producers are crucial because they:
13. Which level of the trophic pyramid would have the least energy?
14. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a producer?
15. Which organism would be considered a tertiary consumer?
16. Which trophic level includes carnivores that eat herbivores?
17. What happens to energy during metabolic processes?
18. What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?
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