13.1

Question 1

what is an ecosystme

Answer 1

a community of organisms interacting with one another and its non living environment

Question 2

what are producers

Answer 2

an organism that contains chlorophyll that absorbs light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, through a process known as photosynthesis

Question 3

what is the role of chlorophyll

Answer 3

absorb light energy, convert light energy to chemical energy, stored in glucose during photosynthesis

Question 4

what are consumers

Answer 4

organisms that are not able to make their own food, obtain energy by feeding on other organisms

Question 5

what are decomposers

Answer 5

organisms that obtain energy by breaking down dead organisms, faeces and excretory products

Question 6

what is a food chain

Answer 6

a series of organisms, beginning with the producer, through which energy and nutrients are transferred

Question 7

what is a food web

Answer 7

consists of a network of interlinked food chains

Question 8

what is the principal source of energy in an ecosystem

Answer 8

the sun

Question 9

how is energy in producers passed from one tropic level to another

Answer 9

feeding

Question 10

how is energy lost to the environment

Answer 10

heat through respiration

Question 11

why are short food chains more efficient in energy transfer

Answer 11

less and less energy is available for the organisms in the next trophic level

Question 12

why do food chains usually have fewer than 5 trophic levels

Answer 12

90% of energy in each tropic level is lost. insufficient energy to support a ling food chains