Trophic levels notes

Energy

The ability to do work or function.

• Represented by arrows in a food chain or web

Trophic Level

The place of the organism in the food chain.

Trophe means food in greek.

• Examples: producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, apex predator

Food Chain

A diagram that shows a single pathway of energy from one organism to another in an environment.

Food Web

A diagram showing the interconnections of many different food chains in an environment.

Energy Pyramid

A diagram that shows the flow of energy in an ecosystem and demonstrates how food energy decreases as you move up the chain.

Equilibrium

A stable situation in which the biotic and abiotic factors are balanced. If an ecosystem is in equilibrium, the population of each organism will not change much from year to year.

Producer

An organism that can make its own food/energy. Also known as an autotroph

• Example: a tree doing photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make glucose (their food) and oxygen.

Consumer

An organism that feeds on other organisms also known as a heterotroph.

• Organisms which eat producers are known as primary consumers

• Those that eat primary consumers are called secondary consumers, ect.

Herbivore

A consumer that eats only plants

• Examples: panda, bunnies, dear,

Carnivore

A consumer that eats only other animals

• Examples: lion, tiger, polarbear, sharks

Omnivore

A consumer that eats both plants and animals

• Examples: humans, brown bear, raccoons

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down the cells dead organisms and returns the materials to the environment

• Example: Fungi, bacteria

Detritivore

A special kind of consumer that eats detritus (dead and decaying plant and animal material).

• Examples: earthworms, flies, crabs

Scavenger

A special kind of carnivore that eats carrion (meat from dead animals).

• Examples: hyena, vultures