Roles of consumers in ecosystems exam 3 Flashcards
(25 cards)
a community of living organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic) interacting as a system.
ecosystem
What is the role of consumers in an ecosystem?
Consumers are organisms that cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients.
are living parts of an ecosystem (plants, animals)
biotic factors
re non-living elements (sunlight, water, soil) in a ecosystem
abiotic factors
Herbivores that eat producers (plants).
primary consumers
Carnivores or omnivores that eat primary consumers
secondar organisms
Organisms that eat secondary consumers; usually top predators in a food chain.
tertiary consumers
Organisms that eat tertiary consumers; apex predators, often at the top of the food web.
quaternary consumers
An animal that eats both plants and animals.
omnivore
An animal that eats only other animals
carnivor
An animal that eats only plants.
herbivore
Each step in a food chain or food web representing a level of energy transfer.
trophic level
Why is energy lost at each trophic level?
Energy is lost as heat through metabolic processes, so only about 10% of energy is passed to the next level.
A linear sequence showing how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another.
food chain
A complex network of interconnected food chains showing multiple feeding relationships.
food web
Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter and return nutrients to the soil.
decomposers
How do decomposers help ecosystems?
They recycle nutrients, maintain soil fertility, and help continue the energy flow.
A relationship where one organism (predator) hunts and eats another (prey).
predation
What is competition in ecosystems?
When organisms fight for the same resources like food, space, or mates.
A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.
mutualism
A relationship where one species benefits and the other is not harmed.
commensalism
A relationship where one organism (parasite) benefits while the host is harmed.
parasitism
How do humans impact consumers in ecosystems?
Through pollution, habitat destruction, overhunting, and introducing invasive species.
Why is biodiversity important in consumer roles?
Greater biodiversity increases resilience and stability in food webs and ecosystems.
