describe what would happen to ecosystems if decomposers didn't exist on Earth.
Energy Flow: Energy Flow Unit Test (Unit 4, lesson 12)
1. What is the correct term for organisms that consume other organisms in order to gain matter and nutrients?
A: Heterotrophs
2. What is the major difference between the position of producers and primary consumers in the food chain?
B: Primary consumers make up the second level of the food chain, while producers make up the first level of the food chain.
3. As energy is passed through the food chain, some of the energy is lost as heat. What is the approximate amount of energy that is passed from one trophic level to the next?
B: 10 percent
4. In the image, which animal is a tertiary consumer?
D: lion
5. If 100,000 kJ of energy is available to the producers, how much energy is available to the secondary consumers in this food pyramid?
C: 1,000 kJ
6. The ultimate source of energy for most organisms is
B: the sun.
7. Which of the following is the best evidence that supports the rule that only 10% of energy is transferred from one organism to another?
C: There are fewer organisms at the top of the food chain because there is less energy available for life processes.
8. Read the following statement and choose the option that has the respective answers in the correct order.
“Chemical energy input converted from the sun occurs via __________ in plants or ingesting food in animals; this energy drives the flow of matter into and out of the cell. The chemical energy is inefficiently converted into usable energy by __________, because all the stored energy is not converted into ATP some of it is released into the ecosystem as ____________.”
C: photosynthesis; respiration; heat
9. Do both animal and plant cells have mitochondria? Why or why not?
Responses
C: Yes; they both need mitochondria for cellular respiration.
10. Chemosynthesis relies on which energy source?
B: chemical
***THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS NEED TO BE GRADED***
11. Heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms in order to gain nutrients. Compare two different categories of heterotrophs in terms of how they obtain nutrients. Explain your answer in one to two sentences.
Answer: Herbivores feed on plants while carnivores feed on animal matter.
12. In 3–5 sentences, compare and contrast the flow of matter and energy for land-based ecosystems and marine ecosystems. How and why are they similar, and how and why are they different?
Answer: Both of the marine and land ecosystems feed on each other for energy. But in the land ecosystem, animals are divided into primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. While the marine ecosystem aren't divided into categories.
13. DDT was developed as a synthetic insecticide. In 1972, DDT was banned for use in the United States due to its damaging environmental effects. In 3-5 sentences explain how introducing DDT into an ecosystem would impact a food chain. Be sure to include all relevant vocabulary in your answer.
Answer: DDT is a synthetic insecticide that is highly toxic to many organisms, such as birds and fish. When DDT enters an ecosystem, it accumulates in the fatty tissues of organisms and is passed up the food chain. This means that the higher up the food chain an organism is, the more DDT it will have in its body. This can cause a decrease in the population of organisms higher up the food chain, as they are more likely to be affected by DDT. DDT can also cause reproductive problems in organisms, leading to a decrease in the population of organisms lower down the food chain. This can have a cascading effect on the entire food chain, leading to a decrease in biodiversity and a disruption of the balance of the ecosystem.
14. In three to five sentences, describe what would happen to ecosystems if decomposers did not exist on Earth.
Answer: Without the existence of decomposers, dead organisms would pile up everywhere. This would lead to a decrease in the availability of essential nutrients for other organisms, and an increase in the amount of waste that is in the environment. With would disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and lead to a decrease in biodiversity and an overall decrease in the health of the environment.
15. Photosynthesis cycles matter and energy in many environments. Explain how chemosynthesis cycles matter and energy in extreme environments. Explain your answer in 1-2 sentences.
Answer: Chemosynthesis cycles matter because they pass matter and energy from one organism to another when organisms are consumed. Chemosynthesis uses chemical energy instead of light energy to convert carbon or methane into organic matter.
My answers are correct because I just took the test.
If decomposers did not exist on Earth, it would have a significant impact on ecosystems. Decomposers play a crucial role in the ecological process of decomposition, breaking down dead organic material, recycling nutrients, and providing an essential link in the food web. Here's a description of what would happen to ecosystems without decomposers:
1. Accumulation of Dead Organic Matter: Without decomposers, dead plants, animals, and other organic matter would not break down efficiently. This accumulation of dead material would lead to the buildup of waste and debris, resulting in a decline in overall cleanliness and hygiene of the environment.
2. Nutrient Depletion: Decomposers are responsible for releasing nutrients trapped within dead organic matter back into the ecosystem. These nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, are vital for the growth and survival of living organisms. Without decomposers, organic material would not be broken down, and the essential nutrients would remain inaccessible. This would result in nutrient-poor soil, affecting the growth of plants and disrupting the food chain.
3. Disease and Pests: Decomposers also help in the breakdown of dead plants and animals infected with diseases or inhabited by pests. Without decomposers to break down these organisms, it would lead to the buildup of disease-causing pathogens and pests. This could result in an increase in the spread of diseases and the growth of pests, affecting both plants and animals in the ecosystem.
4. Disrupted Food Web: Decomposers occupy a significant position in the food chain. They derive their energy by breaking down organic matter, and they serve as a food source for other organisms, including scavengers, detritivores, and some insects. If decomposers vanished, it would disrupt the entire food web, adversely impacting organisms that rely on decomposers for food.
5. Reduced Soil Fertility: Decomposers play a critical role in maintaining soil fertility by recycling nutrients. When organic matter decomposes, it forms humus, a dark, nutrient-rich substance that improves soil structure and fertility. Without decomposers, the accumulation of dead organic matter would prevent the formation of humus, leading to impoverished and less fertile soils.
In summary, the absence of decomposers would result in the accumulation of dead organic matter, nutrient depletion, increased disease and pests, disruption of the food web, and reduced soil fertility. These combined effects would disrupt the overall balance and health of ecosystems.
If decomposers didn't exist on Earth, it would have significant consequences for ecosystems. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what would happen:
1. Limited nutrient recycling: Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment. Without decomposers, the rate of decomposition would slow down or completely halt, leading to a buildup of organic material.
2. Accumulation of dead matter: Without decomposers, dead plants, animals, and other organic material would accumulate in ecosystems. This accumulation would result in the formation of thick layers of organic matter, like leaves and dead animals, which would not be broken down.
3. Nutrient loss: When decomposers break down organic matter, they release nutrients back into the soil, which can be taken up by plants and used by other organisms. Without this process, the availability of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, would decrease, affecting the growth and survival of plants and other organisms.
4. Disruption of food chains: Decomposers form an integral part of the food chain. They consume dead organic matter and are then eaten by other organisms, like detritivores or scavengers. Without decomposers, the food chain would be disrupted, as organisms higher up in the food chain would have limited or no food sources.
5. Disease and pollution accumulation: Decomposers also play a crucial role in breaking down and eliminating harmful pathogens and pollutants present in dead matter. Without their presence, the accumulation of disease-causing organisms and pollutants would increase, posing a threat to the overall health of ecosystems and potentially impacting human and animal health as well.
6. Reduced ecosystem productivity: As nutrient recycling and organic matter decomposition decline, the overall productivity of ecosystems would be significantly reduced. Plants would struggle to obtain the necessary nutrients for growth, and the productivity of primary consumers, like herbivores, would subsequently decline as well.
7. Changes in community structure: The absence of decomposers would lead to changes in community structure as some organisms that rely on decomposers for their food sources would struggle to find alternative resources. This could lead to changes in species composition and potentially the decline or loss of certain organisms.
Overall, the absence of decomposers would disrupt nutrient cycling, accumulate dead matter, affect food chains, increase disease and pollution levels, reduce ecosystem productivity, and alter community structure. Ecosystems would become imbalanced and could ultimately collapse without the essential role played by decomposers.