To review:
The given blank space in the statement, “photosynthetic organisms make up the first trophic level. Organisms in higher trophic levels are collectively called ____________ or ___________. Photosynthetic organisms are consumed by organism collectively called __________ or ____________. Animals that feed on other animals are called ________ or_______. Organisms that feed on wastes and dead bodies are called _______ and ______.”
Introduction:
In an ecosystem, feeding habits of the prey and predators are studied as per their trophic level. Each community occupies a specific trophic level. In almost all the ecosystems, the photosynthetic organisms occupy the first trophic level, except in the detritus food chain.
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Biology: Life on Earth (11th Edition)
- The average efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is 10%. Use this efficiency to determine how much phytoplankton mass is required to add just 1 gram (0.04 ounce) of new mass to a killer whale, which is a third-level or top carnivore. Create a diagram that summarizes the different trophic levels and the relative size and abundance of organisms at each level. How would your answer change if the efficiency were half the average rate? Twice the average rate?arrow_forwardDescribe the trophic levels in a typical ecosystem. Discuss the flow of energy through the ecosystem, the relationship between the different trophic levels, and the factors that limit the number of trophic levelsarrow_forwardIn the Chesapeake Bay estuary, the blue crab is an omnivore that eats eelgrass and other primary producers as well as clams. It is also a cannibal. In turn, the crabs are eaten by humans and by the endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle. 1) Based on the above information, describe the food web that includes the blue crab. Identify the trophic levels and the organisms that occupy each. Some organisms may occupy more than one trophic level. 2) Assuming that top-down control occurs in this system, describe what would happen to the abundance of eelgrass if humans stopped eating blue crab.arrow_forward
- Which trophic level in an aquatic ecosystem would contain the greatest amount of usable energy? Primary consumers located 150 meters below sea level. Primary producers located 80 meters below sea level. Primary producers located 45 meters below sea level. Primary consumers located 40 meters below sea level.arrow_forwardThe number of trophic levels in an ecosystyem are limited.Comment.arrow_forwardHow much energy is passed from one trophic level to the next? Explain why.arrow_forward
- Which of the following is true of trophic relationships in an ecosystem? All energy in the food chain is ultimately transferred to top level carnivores Most of the useable energy transferred between trophic levels is maintained--very little is lost The trophic pyramid predicts that top level carnivores should have the least amount of biomass in an ecosystem Net productivity is typically a measure of over-all photosynthesis in an ecosystemarrow_forwardExplain why there are differences in the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels. Explain what happens to the energy which is not transferred to the next trophic level in a food chain when one organism feeds on another.arrow_forwardNiche Trophic Level Label the following on the diagram above: heterotroph primary consumer tertiary consumer énergy source producer 10% energy transfer autotroph secondary consumer heterotroph heterotropharrow_forward
- Students from Westbury High School participated in a study of the Willow Waterhole Pond. After safely taking samples of some small fish, a fish-eating hawk, some pond water, some zooplankton, and a fish that preys on the small fish, they determined the average concentration of compound "Z" in each sample. The table below summarizes their data. Build a food chain that illustrates the correct trophic order in the pond. Include the concentrations of compound "Z" for each part of the chain. Describe one natural process that would cause compound "Z" to contaminate the pond's water. (Please write in complete sentences.)arrow_forwardNet primary productivity refers to the rate of energy storage as organic matter by autotrophs after respiration is deducted the total rate of photosynthesis, or energy assimilated, by autotrophs the amount of accumulated organic matter found in an area at a given time the production of new tissues and offspring by heterotrophsarrow_forwardOnly about 10 percent of the energy from each level of an energy pyramid is available to the trophic level above it. (The rest is used to power life processes or is lost as heat .) If the primary producers have ,000 units of stored energy , how much energy would you expect to be transfered to first-level , second level , and third -level consumers ? Fill in the boxes with your answers.arrow_forward