Energy Resources and Ecosystems

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key terms related to energy resources, ecosystem dynamics, and the flow of energy between trophic levels.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Sunlight

The primary source of energy for most life on Earth.

Autotrophs

Organisms that can make their own food.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.

Glucose

A type of sugar produced during photosynthesis.

Oxygen

Gas released as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

Carbon Dioxide

Gas used by plants during photosynthesis.

Water

Essential raw material needed for photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot make their own food.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria found in wet ecosystems.

Algae

Important autotrophs found in aquatic ecosystems.

Chemotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from inorganic compounds instead of sunlight.

Hydrogen Sulfide

An inorganic compound used by some deep-sea producers as an energy source.

Producer

Organism that obtains energy directly from the sun.

Consumer

Organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.

Decomposer

Organism that breaks down dead organisms and recycles nutrients.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The main energy currency of cells.

Cellular Respiration

Process by which cells convert sugar into usable energy.

Herbivore

Consumer that feeds directly and only on producers.

Carnivore

Consumer that mainly eats other animals.

Predator

Animal that hunts and feeds on other animals.

Omnivore

Consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Detritivores

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter and waste.

Detritus

Decaying plant and animal material, including feces.

Scavengers

Organisms that consume animals that have already died.

Vulture

Example of a scavenger.

Crow

Example of a scavenger.

Beetle

Example of a scavenger.

Mushroom

Example of a decomposer.

Mold

Example of a decomposer.

Earthworm

Organism that helps decompose organic matter.

Food Chain

A sequence showing the transfer of energy from one organism to another.

Food Web

A network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.

Apex Predator

Consumer at the highest trophic level with no natural predators.

Trophic Cascade

Series of effects caused by the removal of a top predator.

Trophic Levels

Feeding positions within a food chain or food web.

Energy Pyramid

Diagram showing the decrease of energy at higher trophic levels.

$10\%$ Rule

Only about $10\%$ of energy is transferred to the next trophic level.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Law of Conservation of Matter

Matter cannot be created or destroyed and is continuously recycled in ecosystems.