8.2 Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

• Producers convert sunlight into chemical energy.


  True
• Producers perform photosynthesis, converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose
• Order the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

  1️⃣ Sunlight is captured by producers

  2️⃣ Producers convert sunlight into glucose

  3️⃣ Consumers obtain energy by eating producers

  4️⃣ Decomposers recycle dead organic matter
• The flow of energy in an ecosystem starts with producers converting sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis
• Match the trophic level with its description.

  Producers ↔️ Convert sunlight into chemical energy

  Primary Consumers ↔️ Eat producers to obtain energy

  Secondary Consumers ↔️ Eat primary consumers

  Tertiary Consumers ↔️ Top predators with no predators
• Energy flow in an ecosystem refers to the passage of energy through different trophic levels
• At each trophic level, significant energy is lost as heat
• The sun is the primary energy source for most ecosystems.


  True
• Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level in an ecosystem.


  True
• Producers use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into chemical energy.
• Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient because a significant portion is lost as heat
• Energy loss through metabolic processes reduces the energy available to higher trophic levels.


  True
• Match the type of ecological pyramid with its description:

  Pyramids of Numbers ↔️ Show the number of individuals in each trophic level

  Pyramids of Biomass ↔️ Show the total dry weight of organisms at each level

  Pyramids of Energy ↔️ Show the amount of energy available at each level
• Energy flow in ecosystems decreases at each trophic level due to loss as heat
• Match the type of ecological pyramid with its description:

  Pyramids of Numbers ↔️ Illustrate the total number of individuals

  Pyramids of Biomass ↔️ Depict the total dry weight of organisms

  Pyramids of Energy ↔️ Show the amount of energy available
• Energy flow in ecosystems starts with producers capturing sunlight.


  True
• What process do producers use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?

  Photosynthesis
• As energy flows through trophic levels, a significant amount is lost as heat
• Metabolic processes at each trophic level reduce the energy available to higher levels.


  True
• Energy is lost from ecosystems through metabolic processes at each trophic level as heat
• The loss of energy at each trophic level reduces the complexity and stability of food chains.


  True
• Match the ecological pyramid type with its description:

  Pyramids of Numbers ↔️ Illustrate the total number of individuals in each trophic level

  Pyramids of Biomass ↔️ Depict the total dry weight of organisms at each level

  Pyramids of Energy ↔️ Show the amount of energy available at each level
• Pyramids of Numbers are effective for complex ecosystems.

  False
• What is a food web compared to a food chain?

  A more complex representation
• Energy loss as heat in a food web limits the number of sustainable levels
• Order the trophic levels from highest to lowest energy available, based on the 10% rule:

  1️⃣ Producers

  2️⃣ Primary Consumers

  3️⃣ Secondary Consumers

  4️⃣ Tertiary Consumers
• Energy flow in an ecosystem is the passage of energy through different trophic levels, starting with producers capturing sunlight
• What is the primary energy source for most ecosystems?

  Sun
• The sun is the primary energy source for all ecosystems.

  True
• What is primary production in an ecosystem?

  Conversion of solar energy
• Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level.

  True
• What is the main form of energy loss in ecosystems?

  Heat
• Producers convert sunlight into chemical energy via photosynthesis.

  True
• Match the trophic level with its energy source:

  Producers ↔️ Sunlight

  Consumers ↔️ Chemical energy from food

  Decomposers ↔️ Dead organic matter
• The flow of energy in an ecosystem begins with producers converting sunlight into glucose
• Order the main trophic levels in a food chain from primary energy source to top predator:

  1️⃣ Producers

  2️⃣ Primary Consumers

  3️⃣ Secondary Consumers

  4️⃣ Tertiary Consumers
• The energy transfer between trophic levels is 100% efficient.

  False
• Match the trophic level with its energy source and energy loss:

  Producers ↔️ Sunlight ||| Metabolic heat

  Primary Consumers ↔️ Producers ||| Metabolic heat, waste products

  Secondary Consumers ↔️ Primary consumers ||| Metabolic heat, waste products
• Ecological pyramids are graphical representations showing the number, biomass, or energy at each trophic level.
• Arrange the following statements in the correct order to describe the relationship between ecological pyramids and energy flow:

  1️⃣ Energy moves from producers to consumers.

  2️⃣ Significant energy is lost as heat at each trophic level.

  3️⃣ Ecological pyramids of energy reflect this energy loss.