AP Environmental Science : Trophic Levels
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Energy And Biochemical Cycles
Which of the following is likely to be in the lowest trophic level?
Cardinal
Maple tree
Fox
King snake
Caterpillar
Maple tree
Trophic levels are related to the transfer of energy in the food chain. Predators and members of the "top of the food chain" occupy higher trophic levels, while energy producers occupy the lower levels. The correct order from lowest to highest should be the maple tree, caterpillar, cardinal, king snake, and then the fox.
Example Question #2 : Energy Dynamics
Which of the following terms refers to the feeding levels of categories of organisms in a commnunity?
Producers
Trophic level
Secondary consumers
Primary consumers
Teritiary consumer
Trophic level
Trophic level (feeding level) describes the categories of organisms in a community, and the position of an organism in a food chain, defined by the organism's source of energy; includes producers (a photosythetic organism i.e. plants), primary consumers (an organism that feeds on producers; an herbivore), secondary consumers (an organism that feeds on a primary consumer;a carnivore), a tertiary consumer that feeds on other carnivores.
Example Question #3 : Energy And Biochemical Cycles
All of the terms refer to organisms that are not any level of consumer except...?
Scavenger
Omnivore
Decomposer
Detritivore
Omnivore
Scavenger, Detritivores and Decomposers are not any level of consumer since neither consumes any kind of living organism. Scavengers consume already dead organisms. Detritivores consume litter and dung. Decomposers break down biomass into nutrients. Only omnivores consume living organisms since they feed on both primary and secondary consumers.
Example Question #1 : Trophic Levels
What percentage of overall energy is present in the biomass from a lower trophic level to the next highest one?
10%
50%
20%
15%
10%
Because of the law of conservation of energy, it cannot be 100% since some of the energy in each trophic level must be consumed by the organisms themselves. The energy is lost as heat through metabolic activities and other day to day expenditures. This number is supported due to the high number of producers and only a slight number of primary consumers in comparison.
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