Multiple Choice
Why are producers (autotrophs) so important to an ecosystem’s energy flow?
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52. Ecosystems
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
In the context of energy flow through ecosystems, how does energy first enter a pond ecosystem?
A
Energy enters through heat flowing upward from the sediment into the water column.
B
Energy enters when primary consumers eat producers and transfer energy up the food web.
C
Sunlight is captured by photosynthetic producers (such as algae and aquatic plants) and converted into chemical energy.
D
Decomposers release energy into the pond by breaking down dead organic matter.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the primary source of energy in most ecosystems, which is the sun. Energy flow in ecosystems typically begins with the capture of sunlight.
Understand the role of photosynthetic producers, such as algae and aquatic plants, which use sunlight to perform photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in organic molecules.
Recognize that this chemical energy stored in producers forms the base of the food web, supporting primary consumers and higher trophic levels.
Note that energy does not initially enter the ecosystem through consumers or decomposers; rather, these organisms obtain energy by consuming producers or organic matter.
Conclude that in a pond ecosystem, energy first enters when sunlight is captured by photosynthetic producers and converted into chemical energy, which then flows through the ecosystem.
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