Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes how chemical energy travels up the food pyramid?
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52. Ecosystems
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
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Which of the following best describes the direction of energy flow through an ecosystem?
A
From secondary consumers to primary consumers to producers to decomposers
B
From producers to primary consumers to secondary consumers to decomposers
C
From primary consumers to producers to decomposers to secondary consumers
D
From decomposers to secondary consumers to primary consumers to producers
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of energy flow in an ecosystem: Energy flows through an ecosystem in a linear fashion, starting with producers, which are organisms like plants and algae that convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Recognize the role of primary consumers: Primary consumers are herbivores that feed directly on producers, obtaining energy stored in the producers' biomass.
Identify the role of secondary consumers: Secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that feed on primary consumers, transferring energy further up the food chain.
Understand the role of decomposers: Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem, but they do not initiate energy flow.
Conclude the correct sequence: The direction of energy flow in an ecosystem is from producers to primary consumers to secondary consumers to decomposers, as energy is transferred through trophic levels in this order.
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