CHAPTER 4 STUDY GUIDE
4.1 ENERGY, PRODUCERS, AND CONSUMERS A pyramid of numbers shows the relative numbers of
organisms at different trophic levels.
Primary Producers Sunlight is the main energy source for
life on Earth. Organisms that can capture energy from
4.3 CYCLES OF MATTER
sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food
are called autotrophs, or primary producers. Recycling in the Biosphere Matter, unlike energy, is
The process in which autotrophs capture light energy and recycled within and between ecosystems. Elements pass from
use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere
and sugars is called photosynthesis. to another through biogeochemical cycles, which are closed
The process in which autotrophs use chemical energy to loops powered by the flow of energy.
produce carbohydrates is called chemosynthesis.
The Water Cycle Water moves between the ocean, the
Consumers Organisms that rely on other organisms for atmosphere, and land.
their energy and food are called heterotrophs. Heterotrophs Evaporation is the process in which water changes from
are also referred to as consumers. There are many different a liquid to a gas.
types of heterotrophs: Transpiration is the process in which water evaporates
Herbivores, such as cows, obtain energy by eating only from the leaves of plants.
plants.
Carnivores, such as snakes, eat only animals. Nutrient Cycles The chemical substances that an organism
Omnivores, such as humans, eat both plants and needs to survive are called nutrients. Like water, nutrients
animals. pass through organisms and the environment.
Detritivores, such as earthworms, feed on dead matter. Carbon Cycle: Carbon is a key ingredient of all organic
Decomposers, such as fungi, break down organic matter. compounds. Processes involved in the carbon cycle
Scavengers, such as vultures, consume the carcasses of include photosynthesis and human activities such as
other animals. burning.
Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen is needed by all organisms to
4.2 ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEMS build proteins. Processes involved in the nitrogen cycle
include nitrogen fixation and denitrification.
Food Chains and Food Webs Energy flows through an In nitrogen fixation, certain bacteria convert
ecosystem in one direction from primary producers to various nitrogen gas into ammonia.
consumers. In denitrification, other soil bacteria convert
A food chain is a series of steps in which organisms nitrogen compounds called nitrates back into
transfer energy by eating and being eaten. Producers, nitrogen gas.
such as floating algae called phytoplankton, are at the Phosphorus Cycle: Phosphorus is needed for molecules
base of every food chain. such as DNA and RNA. Most of the phosphorus in the
A food web is a network of all the food chains in an biosphere is stored in rocks and ocean sediments. Stored
ecosystem. Food webs are very complex. Small phosphorus is gradually released into water and soil,
disturbances to one population can affect all populations where it is used by organisms.
in a food web. Changes in populations of zooplankton,
small marine animals that feed on algae, can affect all of
the animals in the marine food web. Nutrient Limitation A nutrient that, in short supply, can
limit the productivity of an ecosystem is called a limiting
nutrient.
Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids Each step in a
food chain or food web is called a trophic level. Producers
make up the first trophic level. Consumers make up higher
trophic levels. Each consumer depends on the trophic level
below it for energy. An ecological pyramid is a diagram that
shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained
within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. Types
of ecological pyramids are pyramids of energy, pyramids of
biomass, and pyramids of numbers:
Pyramids of energy show relative amounts of energy
available at different trophic levels.
Pyramids of biomass show the total amount of living
tissue at each trophic level.
