Back to Topic 2.4 — Food chains & webs and trophic levels

2.4.1ESS SL25 flashcards

Producers and consumers

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Card 1 of 252.4.1

Question

State the main entry point of energy into most ecosystems.

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All 25 Flashcards — Producers and consumers

Card 1concept

Question

State the main entry point of energy into most ecosystems.

Answer

Sunlight captured by producers through photosynthesis.

💡 Hint

Sun → producers

Card 2concept

Question

Outline the difference between herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

Answer

Herbivores eat producers, carnivores eat animals, and omnivores eat both producers and animals.

💡 Hint

Plant, animal, both

Card 3definition

Question

Define decomposers.

Answer

Decomposers break down dead organic matter and waste, releasing mineral nutrients back into the environment.

💡 Hint

Break down dead matter

Card 4definition

Question

Define a food chain.

Answer

A food chain is a linear sequence showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another through feeding.

💡 Hint

Linear energy transfer

Card 5definition

Question

Define a producer.

Answer

A producer is an organism that makes its own organic food from inorganic substances using an energy source, usually sunlight.

💡 Hint

Makes own food

Card 6definition

Question

Define a scavenger.

Answer

A scavenger is a consumer that feeds on dead animals and helps begin nutrient recycling.

💡 Hint

Eats carcasses

Card 7concept

Question

Explain why nutrients cycle but energy does not.

Answer

Nutrients are reused when decomposers release them for producers, but energy is dissipated as heat at each transfer and cannot be recycled.

💡 Hint

Nutrients reused, energy lost as heat

Card 8definition

Question

Define a consumer.

Answer

A consumer is an organism that gains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms.

💡 Hint

Eats other organisms

Card 9definition

Question

Define biomass.

Answer

Biomass is the mass of living material in organisms (energy stored in organic matter).

💡 Hint

Living material

Card 10definition

Question

Define trophic level.

Answer

A trophic level is the feeding position an organism occupies in a food chain.

💡 Hint

Feeding position

Card 11concept

Question

In the chain grass → rabbit → fox, state the trophic level of the rabbit.

Answer

Trophic level 2 (primary consumer).

💡 Hint

Herbivore = TL2

Card 12definition

Question

Define mineral nutrients.

Answer

Mineral nutrients are inorganic nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that plants can absorb to build biomass.

💡 Hint

Inorganic plant-available

Card 13concept

Question

Explain how detritivores and saprotrophs support nutrient cycling.

Answer

Both break down dead organic matter; detritivores digest inside the body, while saprotrophs digest outside using enzymes and then absorb nutrients.

💡 Hint

Both recycle nutrients

Card 14concept

Question

Distinguish between a detritivore and a saprotroph.

Answer

Detritivores ingest dead material and digest it inside the body; saprotrophs digest outside the body using enzymes and then absorb nutrients.

💡 Hint

Inside vs outside digestion

Card 15concept

Question

State the process that allows producers to trap energy.

Answer

Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose (biomass).

💡 Hint

Light → chemical

Card 16concept

Question

In food chains, arrows point from what to what?

Answer

From the food source to the consumer (direction of energy flow).

💡 Hint

Food → eater

Card 17concept

Question

In a food chain, what do the arrows represent?

Answer

The arrows show the direction of energy flow, from the organism eaten to the organism that eats it.

💡 Hint

Food → eater

Card 18concept

Question

Identify the consumer type: a vulture feeding on a dead zebra.

Answer

Scavenger.

💡 Hint

Dead animal eater

Card 19concept

Question

Explain why energy flow in a food chain is one-way.

Answer

Energy enters as sunlight, is transformed into biomass, and is lost as heat at each transfer, so it cannot be recycled back down the chain.

💡 Hint

Heat loss each step

Card 20concept

Question

State two points that often gain marks in decomposition questions.

Answer

Energy flows one-way through food chains, and nutrients are recycled when decomposers release them back to soil or water for producers.

💡 Hint

Energy flow + nutrient cycling

Card 21concept

Question

Explain why decomposers are essential for ecosystem productivity.

Answer

They prevent dead matter build-up and recycle nutrients so producers can grow and make new biomass.

💡 Hint

Recycle nutrients for plants

Card 22concept

Question

State the correct order of trophic levels from base to top.

Answer

Producers (TL1) → primary consumers (TL2) → secondary consumers (TL3) → tertiary consumers/top predators (TL4+).

💡 Hint

TL1 to TL4+

Card 23concept

Question

State two roles of consumers in ecosystems.

Answer

Consumers transfer energy through food chains and help control population sizes; many also recycle nutrients by feeding on dead matter and waste.

💡 Hint

Energy transfer + control/recycle

Card 24concept

Question

Explain why producers are essential in ecosystems.

Answer

They are the main entry point of energy into ecosystems and form the base of food chains and food webs.

💡 Hint

Base of energy supply

Card 25definition

Question

State what is meant by trophic level 2.

Answer

Trophic level 2 is the primary consumer level (herbivores that feed on producers).

💡 Hint

Herbivores

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Food chains & webs and trophic levels

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