Ecosystem Interactions & Energy Flow Notes

web models

A food ________ the complex network of feeding relationships between trophic levels within an environment.

food chain

A(n) ________ is a sequence that links by their feeding relationships.

Plant

________ and animal cells have specialized organelles that carry out specific functions within the cell.

Carbon

________- based molecules, such as carbohydrates and proteins, make up the basic structural and functional units of all organisms.

trophic levels

Shows how different food chains within an ecosystem are related and gives a better idea of how energy and matter are transferred between organisms and ________ within the ecosystem.

Decomposers

________- organisms that break down organic matter into simpler compounds.

Carnivores

________ eat herbivores, where some of the energy is converted into heat, leaving the energy unavailable for us by the ________.

Cells

________ are living systems that have inputs and outputs of both matter and energy.

Energy

________ flows up the food chain from the bottom trophic level to the top.

chemical processes

Energy is essential for metabolism { All of the ________ that build up or break down materials in an organisms body }.

Detritivores

________- organisms that eat detritus [a] or dead organic matter.

Herbivores

________ eat the producers but burn some energy in the process (from cell processes such as cellular respiration)

Organisms

________ use the remaining energy to carry out life functions such as cellular respiration and growth.

primary producers

They eat ________- plants or algae- and nothing else.

abiotic components

An ecosystem is a complex web of interconnected biotic and ________.

Food chains

________ are limited because energy is lost as heat to the environment at each trophic level [e]

LESSON

Flow of Energy & Matter in Ecosystems

Carnivores

only eat animals

Omnivores

eat both plants and animals

Detritivores

organisms that eat detritus[a] or dead organic matter

Decomposers

organisms that break down organic matter into simpler compounds