Ecosystem - structure and function, energy flow, food chains food webs ecological pyramids - One Line Questions
1.
If producers have 10,000 kcal of energy, how much energy is typically available to secondary consumers? —
100 kcal
2.
Which of the following best defines a food chain? —
The linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy are transferred
3.
The process by which organisms break down complex organic compounds into simpler inorganic substances is called: —
Decomposition
4.
The sum total of all the organisms of one species in a particular area is called a: —
Population
5.
What is the term for organisms that produce their own food, usually through photosynthesis? —
Autotrophs
6.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a decomposer organism? —
Feeds on dead organic matter
7.
Which of the following is an example of a detritivore? —
Earthworm
8.
In which type of ecosystem is the pyramid of numbers often inverted? —
Forest
9.
An ecosystem's structure is defined by its: —
Biodiversity and species composition
10.
The pyramid of energy is always upright because: —
Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level
11.
What is the primary difference between a food chain and a food web? —
Food chains are linear, food webs are complex networks
12.
Which of the following is an abiotic component of an ecosystem? —
Water
13.
What is the main source of energy for almost all ecosystems on Earth? —
Solar energy
14.
Which of the following is an example of a secondary consumer in a grassland? —
Frog
15.
Which of the following is an example of a higher-level consumer that might be found at the top of a food web? —
Fox
16.
Which term describes all the living organisms in an ecosystem? —
Community
17.
What is the term for the role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions and resource use? —
Niche
18.
In a food web, an organism that feeds on both plants and animals is called a(n): —
Omnivore
19.
What happens to energy as it moves up trophic levels in an ecosystem? —
It decreases
20.
A food web is a more realistic representation of energy flow than a food chain because: —
It depicts the interconnectedness of multiple food chains
21.
What is the significance of the pyramid of energy? —
It demonstrates the loss of energy at each trophic level
22.
In a typical grassland ecosystem, which organism is most likely to be a primary consumer? —
Grasshopper
23.
The flow of energy in an ecosystem is: —
Unidirectional
24.
The '10% law' of energy transfer in an ecosystem states that: —
Only 10% of available energy is transferred to the next trophic level
25.
The total of all chemical processes that occur in living organisms is known as: —
Metabolism
26.
Which component of an ecosystem is responsible for converting solar energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds? —
Producers (plants and algae)
27.
In a typical aquatic food chain, phytoplankton are: —
Producers
28.
In a simplified food chain: Grass -> Deer -> Wolf, what trophic level does the wolf occupy? —
Secondary consumer
29.
Which trophic level consists of organisms that directly consume producers? —
Primary consumers
30.
In a food chain, tertiary consumers feed on: —
Secondary consumers
31.
Which organisms are essential for nutrient cycling in an ecosystem? —
Decomposers and detritivores
32.
What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem? —
Breaking down dead organic matter and recycling nutrients
33.
Which ecological pyramid is always inverted in aquatic ecosystems? —
Pyramid of biomass
34.
Which type of ecological pyramid represents the total amount of living matter at each trophic level? —
Pyramid of biomass
35.
Which of the following is a biotic component of an ecosystem? —
Plants
36.
Which of the following represents the energy transfer from producers to primary consumers? —
Primary consumption
37.
What limits the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems? —
The decreasing energy transfer efficiency at each level
38.
What does the base of an ecological pyramid represent? —
The producers
39.
What is the primary structure of an ecosystem related to its function? —
The species composition and trophic organization
40.
What does the term 'trophic level' refer to in an ecosystem? —
The position an organism occupies in a food chain
41.
What are ecological pyramids used to represent? —
The quantitative relationships between trophic levels
42.
What is a 'standing crop' in ecological terms? —
The total biomass of organisms at a particular trophic level at a given time
43.
The pyramid of biomass in a forest ecosystem is usually upright because: —
The total biomass of producers (trees) is much greater than that of consumers
44.
What is biomass in the context of an ecosystem? —
The total mass of living or organic matter in a given area or volume
45.
The pyramid of numbers in a forest ecosystem is usually upright because: —
There are many producers (trees) supporting fewer herbivores
46.
Which statement best describes the function of ecological pyramids? —
They represent the relative amounts of energy, biomass, or numbers at each trophic level
47.
What is the primary role of producers in an ecosystem? —
To convert light energy into chemical energy
48.
What is the primary function of consumers in an ecosystem? —
To obtain energy by feeding on other organisms
49.
A pond ecosystem typically has which type of pyramid of biomass? —
Inverted
50.
Which of the following is an example of a producer in a terrestrial ecosystem? —
Oak tree