Food Chains and Food Webs - AP Environmental Science
- Which organisms are secondary consumers?
- Carnivores that feed on primary consumers. They occupy the second trophic level in food chains.
- What is the function of detritus feeders?
- To break down dead material and recycle nutrients. They complete nutrient cycles in ecosystems.
- Identify the primary consumers in a food web.
- Herbivores that consume producers. First-level consumers eat only plants in the ecosystem.
- Define biomagnification.
- Increase of toxin concentration in higher trophic levels. Toxins accumulate and concentrate up the food chain.
- What happens to energy not transferred to the next trophic level?
- It is lost as heat due to metabolic processes. Energy converts to heat during cellular respiration.
- What is a food chain?
- A linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next one. Each organism feeds on the one below it in a straight line.
- What is the impact of removing a keystone species?
- Disruption of ecosystem balance. Critical species maintain ecosystem structure and function.
- How do producers contribute to the carbon cycle?
- By converting CO₂ into organic matter through photosynthesis. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Which factor limits food chain length?
- Energy loss at each trophic level. Insufficient energy remains to support more levels.
- What is a keystone species?
- A species on which other species largely depend. Their removal causes major ecosystem disruption.
- How do food chains affect biodiversity?
- Complex food chains can support diverse ecosystems. More pathways provide stability and species variety.
- How does energy efficiency affect trophic levels?
- Lower efficiency limits the number of trophic levels. Energy loss restricts food chain length significantly.
- What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
- A food chain is linear; a food web is interconnected. Webs show multiple pathways while chains are single paths.
- What is a trophic level?
- A position that an organism occupies in a food chain. Each level represents feeding relationships in the ecosystem.
- What is the role of producers in a food chain?
- Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. They form the base by capturing sunlight for all other organisms.
- Identify the effect of energy loss in a food chain.
- It limits the number of organisms that can be supported. Energy reduction limits population sizes at each level.
- What is the role of scavengers in a food web?
- Animals that consume dead animals. They consume carrion and prevent disease spread.
- Identify an example of a tertiary consumer.
- A hawk or a shark. Third-level consumers that eat secondary consumers.
- Identify the process by which producers generate energy.
- Photosynthesis. Light energy converts to chemical energy in glucose.
- What is top-down control in ecosystems?
- Predator influence on lower trophic levels. Higher-level predators regulate prey populations below.
- How do primary consumers obtain energy?
- By eating producers. They feed directly on plants and algae.
- What is an autotroph?
- An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances. Self-feeding organisms that make their own energy.
- How does energy flow in a food web?
- Energy flows from producers to various levels of consumers. Energy moves upward but decreases at each level.
- What is the role of apex predators?
- Top predators with no natural enemies. They control populations at lower trophic levels.
- Which organism is an example of a decomposer?
- Fungi or bacteria. These organisms break down dead organic matter.
- Which trophic level do carnivores occupy?
- Secondary or tertiary consumers. Meat-eaters are found at higher feeding levels.
- What is an example of a producer?
- Plants, algae, or phytoplankton. These organisms make their own food from sunlight.
- What is the primary role of herbivores?
- To consume producers and transfer energy to higher trophic levels. Plant-eaters connect producers to higher consumers.
- What is the main source of energy in most ecosystems?
- The Sun. Solar radiation powers nearly all life on Earth.
- State the 10% rule in ecology.
- Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Most energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes.
- How does nutrient cycling occur?
- Decomposers break down dead matter, returning nutrients to soil. Essential elements flow through the ecosystem repeatedly.
- What is a heterotroph?
- An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms. Other-feeding organisms that consume existing organisms.
- What is an omnivore?
- An organism that eats both plants and animals. These consumers eat both plant and animal matter.
- Which factor determines the base size of a food web?
- The abundance of producers. More producers support larger, more complex food webs.
- What is the significance of decomposers?
- Decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. They return essential materials to soil for producer growth.
- Define ecological pyramid.
- A graphical representation showing the trophic levels in an ecosystem. Shows energy, biomass, or numbers at each level.
- What is the energy source for chemosynthesis?
- Chemical reactions, often in the absence of sunlight. Bacteria use chemicals instead of light for energy.
- Define a food web.
- A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. Multiple food chains link together showing feeding relationships.
- Which organisms are considered detritivores?
- Organisms that consume decomposing organic matter. They feed on dead organic material and waste.
- What is an example of a symbiotic relationship in food webs?
- Mutualism, such as bees pollinating flowers. Both species benefit from their close relationship.