Energy and Matter in Ecosystems

Question 1

food chain

Answer 1

model that links organisms by their feeding relationships

Question 2

food web

Answer 2

model that shows the complex network of feeding relationships within an ecosystem

Question 3

biomass

Answer 3

total dry mass of all organisms in a given area

Question 4

energy pyramid

Answer 4

a diagram that compares energy used by producers

Question 5

biomass pyramid

Answer 5

a diagram that compares the biomass of different trophic levels within an ecosystem

Question 6

pyramid of numbers

Answer 6

a diagram that shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem

Question 7

trophic

Answer 7

relating to feeding and nutrition.

Question 8

reservoir

Answer 8

any location where cycling matter is stored

Question 9

fossil fuel

Answer 9

a nonrenewable energy source formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago

Question 10

producer

Answer 10

(plants) an organism that produces organic compounds from simple substances such as sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide; an autotroph.

Question 11

primary consumer

Answer 11

organisms that eat producers—plants or algae—and nothing else.

Question 12

secondary consumer

Answer 12

organisms that eats primary consumers

Question 13

tertiary consumer

Answer 13

organisms that eats primary and secondary consumers

Question 14

decomposer

Answer 14

living things that get energy by eating dead animals and plants and breaking down wastes of other animals