AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Food Chains And Food Webs

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Food Chains And Food Webs, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which organisms are secondary consumers?

Answer: Carnivores that feed on primary consumers. They occupy the second trophic level in food chains.

Flashcard 2: What is the function of detritus feeders?

Answer: To break down dead material and recycle nutrients. They complete nutrient cycles in ecosystems.

Flashcard 3: Identify the primary consumers in a food web.

Answer: Herbivores that consume producers. First-level consumers eat only plants in the ecosystem.

Flashcard 4: Define biomagnification.

Answer: Increase of toxin concentration in higher trophic levels. Toxins accumulate and concentrate up the food chain.

Flashcard 5: What happens to energy not transferred to the next trophic level?

Answer: It is lost as heat due to metabolic processes. Energy converts to heat during cellular respiration.

Flashcard 6: Which organism is an example of a decomposer?

Answer: Fungi or bacteria. These organisms break down dead organic matter.

Flashcard 7: What is a food chain?

Answer: 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.

Flashcard 8: What is the impact of removing a keystone species?

Answer: Disruption of ecosystem balance. Critical species maintain ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 9: What is the role of apex predators?

Answer: Top predators with no natural enemies. They control populations at lower trophic levels.

Flashcard 10: What is the function of detritus feeders?

Answer: To break down dead material and recycle nutrients. They complete nutrient cycles in ecosystems.

Flashcard 11: How do producers contribute to the carbon cycle?

Answer: By converting CO₂ into organic matter through photosynthesis. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Flashcard 12: Which factor limits food chain length?

Answer: Energy loss at each trophic level. Insufficient energy remains to support more levels.

Flashcard 13: What is a keystone species?

Answer: A species on which other species largely depend. Their removal causes major ecosystem disruption.

Flashcard 14: Which organisms are secondary consumers?

Answer: Carnivores that feed on primary consumers. They occupy the second trophic level in food chains.

Flashcard 15: How do food chains affect biodiversity?

Answer: Complex food chains can support diverse ecosystems. More pathways provide stability and species variety.

Flashcard 16: Identify the effect of energy loss in a food chain.

Answer: It limits the number of organisms that can be supported. Energy reduction limits population sizes at each level.

Flashcard 17: How does energy efficiency affect trophic levels?

Answer: Lower efficiency limits the number of trophic levels. Energy loss restricts food chain length significantly.

Flashcard 18: How does energy efficiency affect trophic levels?

Answer: Lower efficiency limits the number of trophic levels. Energy loss restricts food chain length significantly.

Flashcard 19: How do primary consumers obtain energy?

Answer: By eating producers. They feed directly on plants and algae.

Flashcard 20: Define ecological pyramid.

Answer: A graphical representation showing the trophic levels in an ecosystem. Shows energy, biomass, or numbers at each level.

Flashcard 21: What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Answer: A food chain is linear; a food web is interconnected. Webs show multiple pathways while chains are single paths.

Flashcard 22: What is the primary role of herbivores?

Answer: To consume producers and transfer energy to higher trophic levels. Plant-eaters connect producers to higher consumers.

Flashcard 23: What is a food chain?

Answer: 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.

Flashcard 24: What is the energy source for chemosynthesis?

Answer: Chemical reactions, often in the absence of sunlight. Bacteria use chemicals instead of light for energy.

Flashcard 25: What is a trophic level?

Answer: A position that an organism occupies in a food chain. Each level represents feeding relationships in the ecosystem.

Flashcard 26: What is the role of producers in a food chain?

Answer: Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. They form the base by capturing sunlight for all other organisms.

Flashcard 27: Identify the effect of energy loss in a food chain.

Answer: It limits the number of organisms that can be supported. Energy reduction limits population sizes at each level.

Flashcard 28: What is the role of scavengers in a food web?

Answer: Animals that consume dead animals. They consume carrion and prevent disease spread.

Flashcard 29: Define a food web.

Answer: A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. Multiple food chains link together showing feeding relationships.

Flashcard 30: What is the main source of energy in most ecosystems?

Answer: The Sun. Solar radiation powers nearly all life on Earth.

Flashcard 31: How does nutrient cycling occur?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead matter, returning nutrients to soil. Essential elements flow through the ecosystem repeatedly.

Flashcard 32: Identify the primary consumers in a food web.

Answer: Herbivores that consume producers. First-level consumers eat only plants in the ecosystem.

Flashcard 33: How does energy flow in a food web?

Answer: Energy flows from producers to various levels of consumers. Energy moves upward but decreases at each level.

Flashcard 34: Identify an example of a tertiary consumer.

Answer: A hawk or a shark. Third-level consumers that eat secondary consumers.

Flashcard 35: Identify the process by which producers generate energy.

Answer: Photosynthesis. Light energy converts to chemical energy in glucose.

Flashcard 36: What is top-down control in ecosystems?

Answer: Predator influence on lower trophic levels. Higher-level predators regulate prey populations below.

Flashcard 37: Identify the process by which producers generate energy.

Answer: Photosynthesis. Light energy converts to chemical energy in glucose.

Flashcard 38: How do primary consumers obtain energy?

Answer: By eating producers. They feed directly on plants and algae.

Flashcard 39: What is an autotroph?

Answer: An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances. Self-feeding organisms that make their own energy.

Flashcard 40: State the 10% rule in ecology.

Answer: Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Most energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes.

Flashcard 41: What is an example of a producer?

Answer: Plants, algae, or phytoplankton. These organisms make their own food from sunlight.

Flashcard 42: How does energy flow in a food web?

Answer: Energy flows from producers to various levels of consumers. Energy moves upward but decreases at each level.

Flashcard 43: Identify an example of a tertiary consumer.

Answer: A hawk or a shark. Third-level consumers that eat secondary consumers.

Flashcard 44: What is the role of apex predators?

Answer: Top predators with no natural enemies. They control populations at lower trophic levels.

Flashcard 45: What is top-down control in ecosystems?

Answer: Predator influence on lower trophic levels. Higher-level predators regulate prey populations below.

Flashcard 46: Which organism is an example of a decomposer?

Answer: Fungi or bacteria. These organisms break down dead organic matter.

Flashcard 47: Which trophic level do carnivores occupy?

Answer: Secondary or tertiary consumers. Meat-eaters are found at higher feeding levels.

Flashcard 48: What is an example of a producer?

Answer: Plants, algae, or phytoplankton. These organisms make their own food from sunlight.

Flashcard 49: What is the primary role of herbivores?

Answer: To consume producers and transfer energy to higher trophic levels. Plant-eaters connect producers to higher consumers.

Flashcard 50: What is a heterotroph?

Answer: An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms. Other-feeding organisms that consume existing organisms.

Flashcard 51: Which organisms are considered detritivores?

Answer: Organisms that consume decomposing organic matter. They feed on dead organic material and waste.

Flashcard 52: What is the main source of energy in most ecosystems?

Answer: The Sun. Solar radiation powers nearly all life on Earth.

Flashcard 53: State the 10% rule in ecology.

Answer: Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Most energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes.

Flashcard 54: How do producers contribute to the carbon cycle?

Answer: By converting CO₂ into organic matter through photosynthesis. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Flashcard 55: How does nutrient cycling occur?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead matter, returning nutrients to soil. Essential elements flow through the ecosystem repeatedly.

Flashcard 56: What is a keystone species?

Answer: A species on which other species largely depend. Their removal causes major ecosystem disruption.

Flashcard 57: What is a heterotroph?

Answer: An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms. Other-feeding organisms that consume existing organisms.

Flashcard 58: What is an omnivore?

Answer: An organism that eats both plants and animals. These consumers eat both plant and animal matter.

Flashcard 59: Which factor determines the base size of a food web?

Answer: The abundance of producers. More producers support larger, more complex food webs.

Flashcard 60: Which factor determines the base size of a food web?

Answer: The abundance of producers. More producers support larger, more complex food webs.

Flashcard 61: What is the significance of decomposers?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. They return essential materials to soil for producer growth.

Flashcard 62: Define ecological pyramid.

Answer: A graphical representation showing the trophic levels in an ecosystem. Shows energy, biomass, or numbers at each level.

Flashcard 63: What is the impact of removing a keystone species?

Answer: Disruption of ecosystem balance. Critical species maintain ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 64: What is the energy source for chemosynthesis?

Answer: Chemical reactions, often in the absence of sunlight. Bacteria use chemicals instead of light for energy.

Flashcard 65: Which trophic level do carnivores occupy?

Answer: Secondary or tertiary consumers. Meat-eaters are found at higher feeding levels.

Flashcard 66: What is the role of scavengers in a food web?

Answer: Animals that consume dead animals. They consume carrion and prevent disease spread.

Flashcard 67: How do food chains affect biodiversity?

Answer: Complex food chains can support diverse ecosystems. More pathways provide stability and species variety.

Flashcard 68: What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Answer: A food chain is linear; a food web is interconnected. Webs show multiple pathways while chains are single paths.

Flashcard 69: What is an autotroph?

Answer: An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances. Self-feeding organisms that make their own energy.

Flashcard 70: What is the role of producers in a food chain?

Answer: Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. They form the base by capturing sunlight for all other organisms.

Flashcard 71: What is an example of a symbiotic relationship in food webs?

Answer: Mutualism, such as bees pollinating flowers. Both species benefit from their close relationship.

Flashcard 72: Define a food web.

Answer: A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. Multiple food chains link together showing feeding relationships.

Flashcard 73: Which organisms are considered detritivores?

Answer: Organisms that consume decomposing organic matter. They feed on dead organic material and waste.

Flashcard 74: What is the significance of decomposers?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. They return essential materials to soil for producer growth.

Flashcard 75: What is an omnivore?

Answer: An organism that eats both plants and animals. These consumers eat both plant and animal matter.

Flashcard 76: Which factor limits food chain length?

Answer: Energy loss at each trophic level. Insufficient energy remains to support more levels.

Flashcard 77: What is an example of a symbiotic relationship in food webs?

Answer: Mutualism, such as bees pollinating flowers. Both species benefit from their close relationship.