Cycles Test

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to apex predators.

Energy flows from producers (autotrophs) to primary consumers (herbivores), then to secondary consumers (carnivores), and finally to apex predators.

Producers are organisms, typically plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis and serve as the base of the food chain.

Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle chemical elements and water through both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.

The sun provides the energy necessary for the water cycle, driving processes like evaporation and transpiration.

Organisms that do not decompose can be buried and eventually become fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or natural gas.

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a more complex representation that includes multiple food chains.

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth and maintains ecosystem health.

An apex predator is a top-level predator in an ecosystem that has no natural enemies and is at the top of the food chain.