Relationships in an Ecosystem

These flashcards cover the key concepts of relationships in ecosystems, including food chains, roles of different organisms, and definitions of key terms.

What is a food chain?

The sequence by which energy, in the form of food, flows from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

What role do producers play in a food chain?

Producers are the first organism in a food chain that make their own food using sunlight or other chemical energy.

Define herbivore.

An organism that feeds directly on plants or producers.

What is a carnivore?

An organism that eats other animals for food.

What is an omnivore?

An organism that eats both plants and animals for food.

What is the role of decomposers?

Decomposers break down complex compounds into simpler compounds, returning valuable minerals and nutrients back into the soil.

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

A food chain is a linear flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another, while a food web is a combination of many different food chains and their relationships.

What defines an apex predator?

An apex predator is a top predator in a food chain that has no natural predators of its own.

What does the term 'trophic level' mean?

Trophic level refers to the feeding level of an organism within a food chain.

Name an example of a primary consumer.

Example: An herbivore such as a grasshopper.