FLOW OF ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS

kinetic

related to or possessing motion

potential

something possible; ability to go into action or perform work

You are a _____ consumer if you feed on secondary consumers.

tertiary

Most energy in an ecosystem comes originally from _____.

the Sun

thermodynamics

the study of energy and its transformations

tertiary consumer

predator that eats secondary consumers

Ecosystems usually become balanced by natural controls, including natural selection. A balanced ecosystem is one in which _____.

the first organism on the food chain must outnumber the subsequent organisms on the food chain.

A food chain or food web can provide good information like _____.

the flow of energy in an ecosystem the eating patterns of organisms

Mr. Jones, the science teacher, tells his students that energy cannot be created; it must be captured from the environment. He is talking about the _____.

first law of thermodynamics

The person holding the bow and arrow has now let go. The arrow shoots forward toward its target. What type of energy is being described?

kinetic

food chain

line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten

secondary consumer

organisms that eat primary consumers

primary consumer

organisms that eat producers

Picture a person standing with a drawn bow and arrow. He is aiming it at a bull's eye target. What type of energy is being described?

potential

Living organisms that are able to make their own food are _____.

producers

According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat energy released by an organism is _____.

released into the environment and unusable

During spring, when Earl's crops were plentiful, he noticed an increased number of rabbits. At night, he also heard an increased number of howls from the coyotes. What do you think will happen when winter comes around and the crops die out?

Both the rabbit and coyote population could decrease because the original food supply decreased.

A plant absorbs energy from the sun. Where does the energy go from there?

Some of the energy is stored in the plant's tissues and the rest is released as heat energy.

What is the definition of energy?

the ability to do work

About how much energy is transferred between a producer and primary consumer?

10% of the plant's energy is transferred

Trace the flow of energy by numbering the following events from start to finish. 1. Step 1 2. Step 2 3. Step 3 4. Step 4 5. Step 5

4 A fox eats the rabbit and uses the energy for growth and respiration. 1The sun emits energy. 2 Plants absorb energy from the sun and use it for photosynthesis. 3 A rabbit eats the plants and uses the energy for growth and respiration. 5The fox dies and is decomposed.

1. decomposers 2. food chain 3. food web 4. kinetic 5. potential 6. primary consumer 7. secondary consumer

5 something possible; ability to go into action or perform work 4 related to or possessing motion 6organisms that eat producers 3 a diagram that shows the connections among food chains in an ecosystem 2 line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten 1 bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter 7organisms that eat primary consumers

Life cycles recycle matter and help to create balance on Earth because _____.

Producers make their own food. Consumers gain energy from producers. Decomposers break down dead matter into essential nutrients that are then reused by producers.

food web

a diagram that shows the connections among food chains in an ecosystem

Which of the following is an example of energy changing from one form to another?

a fire

decomposers

bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter