Energy Flow in Ecosystems - Middle School Life Science
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What do decomposers return to the environment that helps producers grow again?
What do decomposers return to the environment that helps producers grow again?
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Nutrients (recycled matter). Matter cycles while energy flows one-way.
Nutrients (recycled matter). Matter cycles while energy flows one-way.
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What is the term for a consumer that eats secondary consumers?
What is the term for a consumer that eats secondary consumers?
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Tertiary consumer. Third-level consumer, eats carnivores.
Tertiary consumer. Third-level consumer, eats carnivores.
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What is the term for a consumer that eats primary consumers?
What is the term for a consumer that eats primary consumers?
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Secondary consumer. Feeds on herbivores, second step from producers.
Secondary consumer. Feeds on herbivores, second step from producers.
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What is the term for a consumer that eats only producers?
What is the term for a consumer that eats only producers?
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Primary consumer (herbivore). First-level consumers eat only plants.
Primary consumer (herbivore). First-level consumers eat only plants.
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What happens to most energy at each trophic transfer in an ecosystem model?
What happens to most energy at each trophic transfer in an ecosystem model?
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It is lost as heat through life processes. Organisms use energy for metabolism and movement.
It is lost as heat through life processes. Organisms use energy for metabolism and movement.
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Which statement best describes energy availability at higher trophic levels?
Which statement best describes energy availability at higher trophic levels?
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Less energy is available at higher trophic levels. Energy decreases as it moves up the chain.
Less energy is available at higher trophic levels. Energy decreases as it moves up the chain.
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What is a decomposer in an energy-flow model?
What is a decomposer in an energy-flow model?
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An organism that breaks down dead matter and wastes for energy. Recycles nutrients back to soil for producers.
An organism that breaks down dead matter and wastes for energy. Recycles nutrients back to soil for producers.
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What is a trophic level in an energy-flow model?
What is a trophic level in an energy-flow model?
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A feeding position in a food chain or food web. Each level represents who eats whom.
A feeding position in a food chain or food web. Each level represents who eats whom.
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What is the approximate fraction of energy transferred to the next trophic level?
What is the approximate fraction of energy transferred to the next trophic level?
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About $10%$. The 10% rule shows energy loss between levels.
About $10%$. The 10% rule shows energy loss between levels.
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What is a consumer in an ecosystem energy model?
What is a consumer in an ecosystem energy model?
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An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms. They cannot make their own food like producers can.
An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms. They cannot make their own food like producers can.
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Which model best shows that energy decreases at higher trophic levels?
Which model best shows that energy decreases at higher trophic levels?
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Energy pyramid. Its triangular shape shows energy loss at each level.
Energy pyramid. Its triangular shape shows energy loss at each level.
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Identify the correct arrow direction: grass and rabbit in a food chain model.
Identify the correct arrow direction: grass and rabbit in a food chain model.
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Grass rabbit. Arrow points from grass (eaten) to rabbit (eater).
Grass rabbit. Arrow points from grass (eaten) to rabbit (eater).
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Identify the trophic level: a hawk that eats a snake that ate a mouse that ate plants.
Identify the trophic level: a hawk that eats a snake that ate a mouse that ate plants.
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Tertiary consumer. Count four levels: plant, mouse, snake, hawk.
Tertiary consumer. Count four levels: plant, mouse, snake, hawk.
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Which group is missing if a model shows only producers and consumers but no recycling?
Which group is missing if a model shows only producers and consumers but no recycling?
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Decomposers. Without them, nutrients wouldn't return to producers.
Decomposers. Without them, nutrients wouldn't return to producers.
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Choose the correct sequence for energy flow in a simple ecosystem model.
Choose the correct sequence for energy flow in a simple ecosystem model.
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Sun producers consumers decomposers. Energy flows one-way through all organism types.
Sun producers consumers decomposers. Energy flows one-way through all organism types.
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Which organisms return nutrients to the soil or water by breaking down matter?
Which organisms return nutrients to the soil or water by breaking down matter?
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Decomposers. This completes the nutrient cycle in ecosystems.
Decomposers. This completes the nutrient cycle in ecosystems.
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What is a detritivore in an energy flow model?
What is a detritivore in an energy flow model?
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An organism that eats dead organic matter (detritus). Examples include earthworms and millipedes.
An organism that eats dead organic matter (detritus). Examples include earthworms and millipedes.
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What is the role of tertiary consumers in energy flow models?
What is the role of tertiary consumers in energy flow models?
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They eat secondary consumers and are higher-level predators. They're at the fourth trophic level.
They eat secondary consumers and are higher-level predators. They're at the fourth trophic level.
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What is the role of secondary consumers in energy flow models?
What is the role of secondary consumers in energy flow models?
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They eat primary consumers and transfer energy upward. They're carnivores at the third trophic level.
They eat primary consumers and transfer energy upward. They're carnivores at the third trophic level.
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What is the role of primary consumers in energy flow models?
What is the role of primary consumers in energy flow models?
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They eat producers and transfer energy to higher levels. They're herbivores at the second trophic level.
They eat producers and transfer energy to higher levels. They're herbivores at the second trophic level.
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What is a trophic level in an ecosystem model?
What is a trophic level in an ecosystem model?
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A feeding level in a food chain or food web. Each level represents organisms with similar energy sources.
A feeding level in a food chain or food web. Each level represents organisms with similar energy sources.
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Which term names a model that shows many connected feeding relationships?
Which term names a model that shows many connected feeding relationships?
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Food web. It's more realistic than a simple chain.
Food web. It's more realistic than a simple chain.
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Which term names a model that shows one pathway of energy transfer?
Which term names a model that shows one pathway of energy transfer?
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Food chain. It's a linear sequence of who eats whom.
Food chain. It's a linear sequence of who eats whom.
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What does an arrow in a food chain model represent?
What does an arrow in a food chain model represent?
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Direction of energy transfer (from food to eater). Energy flows from the organism being eaten to the eater.
Direction of energy transfer (from food to eater). Energy flows from the organism being eaten to the eater.
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What is the original source of energy for most food webs?
What is the original source of energy for most food webs?
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The Sun. Producers convert solar energy into food energy.
The Sun. Producers convert solar energy into food energy.
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