Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes how energy flows through a food web?
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52. Ecosystems
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
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Which organisms are considered the most important transformers of energy in ecosystems?
A
Secondary consumers (carnivores)
B
Producers (autotrophs)
C
Primary consumers (herbivores)
D
Decomposers (fungi and bacteria)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of energy flow in ecosystems: Energy enters ecosystems primarily through sunlight, which is captured by certain organisms and converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Identify the organisms responsible for capturing and converting sunlight into usable energy: Producers, also known as autotrophs (e.g., plants, algae, and some bacteria), are the primary organisms that perform this function. They transform solar energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules.
Recognize the role of other organisms in the energy flow: Primary consumers (herbivores) feed on producers to obtain energy, secondary consumers (carnivores) feed on primary consumers, and decomposers (fungi and bacteria) break down organic matter to recycle nutrients but do not directly transform solar energy.
Compare the roles of these groups: While all these organisms are essential for ecosystem functioning, producers are the most important transformers of energy because they are the entry point for energy into the food web.
Conclude that producers (autotrophs) are the correct answer, as they are the organisms responsible for converting solar energy into a form that can be used by other organisms in the ecosystem.
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