CP - Chains, Webs, and Pyramids

producer

any organism able to capture sunlight (photo-) or chemicals (chemo-) to create its own glucose; the first trophic level in any food chain

phytoplankton

microscopic, free-floating autotrophs that form the first trophic level in aquatic ecosystems

heterotroph

any organism that must ingest or obtain glucose from another source

consumer

any organism that must ingest or obtain glucose from another source

primary consumer

any consumer that feeds directly on autotrophs; typically found in the second trophic level of an energy pyramid

secondary consumer

any consumer that feeds on primary consumers; typically found in the third trophic level

tertiary consumer

typically a carnivore near the top of the energy pyramid that feeds on organisms in lower trophic levels; typically found in the fourth trophic level or above

food chain

a linear diagram showing the movement of energy through the organisms in an ecosystem; always begins with a producer

food web

a diagram showing all the energy pathways in an ecosystem; the combination of all the food chains in an ecosystem

trophic level

the group of organisms within an ecosystem which occupy the same level in a food chain or food web

herbivore

any organism that feeds mostly on plants; typically found in the second trophic level as a primary consumer

carnivore

any organism that eats mostly the flesh of other organisms; typically found above the second trophic level as a secondary, tertiary, or quaternary consumer

omnivore

any organism that eats plants and the flesh of other organisms; typically found above the second trophic level as a secondary or tertiary consumer; can be a quaternary consumer if large enough

1st trophic level

the level made completely of autotrophs/producers; receives energy directly from the sun and utilizes or gives off 90% of that energy; the largest trophic level

2nd trophic level

the level made entirely of heterotrophs/consumers (herbivores & detritivores); receives 10% of the energy generated by the first trophic level

3rd trophic level

the level made entirely of heterotrophs/consumers (carnivores, omnivores, and scavengers); receives 10% of the energy generated by the second trophic level

4th trophic level

the level made entirely of heterotrophs/consumers (carnivores and large omnivores); receives 10% of the energy generated by the third trophic level

quaternary consumer

typically a carnivore near the top of the energy pyramid that feeds on organisms in lower trophic levels; typically found in the fifth trophic level

5th trophic level

the level made entirely of heterotrophs/consumers (carnivores and large omnivores); receives 10% of the energy generated by the fourth trophic level

energy pyramid

a graphical representation of the energy found within the trophic levels of an ecosystem; the greatest amount of energy is located in the first trophic level with autotrophs and decreases for each additional trophic level

10% rule

approximately 10% of the energy in one trophic level gets passed onto the next trophic level while the rest is either used to sustain life or is lost as heat