Unit 5 Target 3: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
Questions and Answers
- 1.
In the food web above, which is a correct sequence for the flow of energy in a food chain containing the leopard seal?
- A.
Phytoplankton > krill > penguin > leopard seal
- B.
Smaller toothed whales > leopard seal > fish > krill
- C.
Other birds > leopard seal > other seals > baleen whale
- D.
Carnivorous zooplankton > other seals > leopard seal > smaller toothed whales
Correct Answer
A. Phytoplankton > krill > penguin > leopard sealExplanation
In the given food chain, the correct sequence for the flow of energy starts with phytoplankton, which are tiny plants that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Krill, small shrimp-like creatures, feed on phytoplankton, transferring the energy from the plants to themselves. Penguins then consume krill, obtaining the energy from them. Finally, the leopard seal, being a predator, feeds on penguins, thus obtaining the energy from the previous organisms in the food chain.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Refer to the illustration above. How much energy is available to the organisms in level 3?
- A.
All of the energy in level 1 plus the energy in level 2
- B.
All of the energy in level 1 minus the energy in level 2
- C.
About 10 percent of the energy in level 2
- D.
About 90 percent of the energy in level 2
Correct Answer
C. About 10 percent of the energy in level 2Explanation
The organisms in level 3 receive about 10 percent of the energy in level 2. This is because energy is transferred between trophic levels in an ecosystem, and each level only receives a fraction of the energy from the level below it. Therefore, level 3 would receive a smaller amount of energy compared to level 2, approximately 10 percent.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Organisms that manufacture organic nutrients for an ecosystem are called
- A.
Consumers.
- B.
Predators.
- C.
Producers.
- D.
Omnivores.
Correct Answer
C. Producers.Explanation
Producers are organisms that manufacture organic nutrients for an ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis. They convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose, which serves as a source of energy for themselves and other organisms in the ecosystem. Consumers, on the other hand, obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. Predators are consumers that hunt and kill other organisms for food, while omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals. Therefore, the correct answer is producers, as they are responsible for producing organic nutrients in an ecosystem.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Consider the following simple lake food chain.Algae > Mosquito larvae > Dragonfly larvae > Perch > PikeAccording to this diagram, which of these organisms is a tertiary consumer?
- A.
Pike
- B.
Perch
- C.
Dragongly larvae
- D.
Mosquito larvae
Correct Answer
B. PerchExplanation
In the given food chain, the tertiary consumer is the organism that feeds on the secondary consumer. In this case, the Perch is the secondary consumer as it feeds on the Dragonfly larvae. Therefore, the correct answer is Perch.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Approximately 10% of the energy absorbed by one trophic level is transferred to the next successive level. The same number of calories are available at the primary producer level of each of these food chains.Food Chain 1: phytoplankton > zooplankton > smelt > trout > humansFood Chain 2: phytoplankton > smelt > humansWhat is the trophic level for the zooplankton in Food Chain 1?
- A.
Tertiary consumer
- B.
Secondary consumer
- C.
Producer
- D.
Primary consumer
Correct Answer
D. Primary consumerExplanation
The zooplankton in Food Chain 1 is considered a primary consumer because it feeds directly on the phytoplankton, which are the primary producers. The primary consumers are the organisms that consume the primary producers and are the first level of consumers in the food chain.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Approximately 10% of the energy absorbed by one trophic level is transferred to the next successive level. The same number of calories are available at the primary producer level of each of these food chains.Food Chain 1: phytoplankton à zooplankton à smelt à trout à humansFood Chain 2: phytoplankton à smelt à humansHow much energy is available to humans in Food Chain 2 as compared to the energy available to humans in Food Chain 1?
- A.
10 times less energy
- B.
100 times less energy
- C.
10 times more energy
- D.
100 times more energy
Correct Answer
D. 100 times more energyExplanation
In Food Chain 1, energy is transferred from phytoplankton to zooplankton, smelt, trout, and finally to humans. Each trophic level transfers approximately 10% of the energy to the next level. Therefore, by the time the energy reaches humans, it has gone through four trophic levels, resulting in a significant loss of energy.
In Food Chain 2, however, the energy only goes through two trophic levels, from phytoplankton to smelt and then to humans. Since there are fewer trophic levels involved, more energy is available to humans in Food Chain 2 compared to Food Chain 1. Hence, the energy available to humans in Food Chain 2 is 100 times more than in Food Chain 1.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Which energy pyramid accurately represents the amount of energy in a desert food chain including cactus, hawk, insect, and snake?
- A.
![Unit 5 Target 3: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems - Quiz]()
- B.
![Unit 5 Target 3: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems - Quiz]()
- C.
![Unit 5 Target 3: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems - Quiz]()
- D.
![Unit 5 Target 3: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems - Quiz]()
Correct Answer
C.Explanation
An energy pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in a food chain. In a desert food chain, the cactus is the primary producer and has the highest amount of energy. The insect feeds on the cactus and has a lower energy level. The snake feeds on the insect and has an even lower energy level. The hawk is at the top of the food chain and feeds on the snake, making it the tertiary consumer with the lowest energy level. Therefore, the energy pyramid should show the cactus at the base, followed by the insect, snake, and hawk at the top.Rate this question:
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- 8.
In going from one trophic level to the next higher level,
- A.
The number of organisms increases.
- B.
The amount of usable energy increases.
- C.
The amount of usable energy decreases.
- D.
None of the above
Correct Answer
C. The amount of usable energy decreases.Explanation
As energy moves up the trophic levels in a food chain or food web, there is a decrease in the amount of usable energy available. This is because energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes and as organisms consume other organisms, not all of the energy is transferred. Therefore, as you move up the trophic levels, there is less energy available for organisms at higher levels to consume.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Which path best illustrates one way energy travels through a forest ecosystem consisting of mouse, owl, plant, snake, and sun?
- A.
Sun > plant > owl > snake > mouse
- B.
Sun > plant > mouse > snake > owl
- C.
Plant > sun >snake > owl > mouse
- D.
Mouse > owl > snake > plant > sun
Correct Answer
B. Sun > plant > mouse > snake > owlExplanation
The given answer "sun > plant > mouse > snake > owl" best illustrates one way energy travels through a forest ecosystem. This is because the sun provides energy through photosynthesis in plants, which are then consumed by mice. The energy is transferred to snakes when they consume the mice, and finally to owls when they consume the snakes.Rate this question:
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- 10.
All the interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem make up a food
- A.
Interaction.
- B.
Chain.
- C.
Pyramid.
- D.
Web.
Correct Answer
D. Web.Explanation
An ecosystem consists of various organisms that are interconnected through feeding relationships. These relationships form a complex network known as a food web. Unlike a food chain, which only shows a linear sequence of energy transfer from one organism to another, a food web depicts the interconnections between multiple organisms and their feeding interactions. Therefore, the correct answer is "web."Rate this question:
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- 11.
The first trophic level of any ecosystem is occupied by organisms such as
- A.
Lions, wolves, and snakes.
- B.
Humans, bears, and pigs.
- C.
Cows, horses, and caterpillars.
- D.
Plants, bacteria, and algae.
Correct Answer
D. Plants, bacteria, and algae.Explanation
The first trophic level of any ecosystem is occupied by plants, bacteria, and algae. These organisms are called producers as they are capable of converting sunlight into energy through the process of photosynthesis. They form the base of the food chain and provide energy and nutrients to the organisms in higher trophic levels. Lions, wolves, snakes, humans, bears, pigs, cows, horses, and caterpillars are all consumers and occupy higher trophic levels in the ecosystem.Rate this question:
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- 12.
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called the
- A.
Organic mass.
- B.
Trophic mass.
- C.
Energy mass.
- D.
Biomass.
Correct Answer
D. Biomass.Explanation
Biomass refers to the total amount of living tissue within a specific trophic level. It includes the mass of all organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, present in that level. Biomass is an important measure as it indicates the amount of energy available in an ecosystem and can be used to study the flow of energy and nutrients through food chains and food webs.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the remaining energy, some is used for the organism’s life processes, and the rest isa. used in reproduction. c. stored as fat. b. stored as body tissue. d. released as heat.
- A.
Used in reproduction.
- B.
Stored as body tissue.
- C.
Stored as fat.
- D.
Released as heat.
Correct Answer
D. Released as heat.Explanation
The correct answer is released as heat. This is because as energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, some energy is always lost as heat due to the inefficiency of energy transfer and metabolic processes. This lost energy is not available for the next trophic level and is instead released into the environment as heat.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Which ecological pyramid is shown above?a. energy pyramid c. biomass pyramid b. pyramid of numbers d. food pyramid
- A.
Energy pyramid
- B.
Pyramid of numbers
- C.
Biomass pyramid
- D.
Food pyramid
Correct Answer
C. Biomass pyramidExplanation
The correct answer is biomass pyramid. This is because the pyramid represents the different trophic levels in an ecosystem based on the amount of biomass (organic matter) present at each level. The lower levels, such as producers, have the highest biomass, while the higher levels, such as top predators, have the lowest biomass. This pyramid helps to illustrate the transfer of energy and nutrients through the ecosystem.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Dec 01, 2014Quiz Created by
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