Trophic Levels in an Ecosystem Flashcards
What are producers
always an plant or algae which can photosynthesis to provide all the biomass
What are primary consumers
Herbi/omnivores which eat the producer
What are secondary consumers
They eat the secondary consumers
Whats after the secondary consumer
There may be additional carnivores consumers known as tertiary or quaternary consumers
What are the organisms at the the top of the food chain known as
The apex predator as it has no predator
What is parasitism
Where one organism benefits but the other one is harmed but if the parasite kills their host they die too
What is an example of parasite
tapeworms attach themselves to the intestinal walls of their human host and absorbs nutrients
What are decomposers
bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms by secreting enzymes and the absorbing the digested, smaller food molecules by diffusion
known as extracelluar digestion
What are scavengers
feed on dead animals
What is the order of the food chain
producer –> primary consumer –> secondary consumer –> Apex predator
How can pyramids of biomass be constructed
mass of organisms at different trophic levels
What is the relationship shown by the pyramid of biomass
The biomass at each level is less than the previous level so producers have the most
Why is it difficult to create pyramids of biomass
Only dry mass used so organisms must be killed and collected, biomass varies seasonaly and estimates used to avoid killing
How is biomass lost
Animals can only utilise a small amount of biomass as most of it is lost due to indigestible leaves and respiration. Around 10% is transferred
How much of the light reaching them can plants photosynthesise
Only 1% so herbivores need to eat lots of plants to get sufficient energy
