Final Answer:
1. a) Producers
b) Consumers
c) Decomposers
2. a) Herbivores
b) Carnivores
c) Omnivores
3. a) Primary consumers
b) Secondary consumers
c) Tertiary consumers
4. Food chain: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk
(One possible correct chain; other valid chains accepted if organisms are in correct trophic order.)
5. Energy decreases at each level (about 10% transferred); most energy is lost as heat.
6. a) True
b) False
c) True
d) False
7. a) Food chain
b) Food web
c) Energy pyramid
d) Trophic level
8. a) Sun
b) Producers
c) Primary consumers
d) Secondary consumers
e) Tertiary consumers
f) Decomposers
9. a) 10%
b) 90%
10. a) Producer
b) Primary consumer
c) Secondary consumer
d) Tertiary consumer
11. a) Grass → Rabbit → Fox
b) Algae → Zooplankton → Small fish → Large fish
c) Leaves → Caterpillar → Bird → Hawk
12. a) Decomposers break down dead matter and recycle nutrients.
b) Without decomposers, nutrients would stay locked in dead organisms, and plants couldn’t grow.
13. a) Energy flow is linear and one-way (sun → producers → consumers → heat loss).
b) Nutrient cycling is circular (elements like carbon and nitrogen are reused).
14. Pyramid of energy
15. Because only ~10% of energy transfers between levels; higher levels get less energy, so fewer organisms can be supported.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of ecosystem worksheet for high school.
