Question

read the sentences below, filling in the blanks with items from this list. each item will be used once.
carnivores
primary producers
photosynthesis
top
decomposers
keystone
smaller
grazers
elk
sea urching
producers in an ecosystem convert sunlight into organic matter through the process of ______________.
______________, such as lions or wolves, prey upon other animals.
fungi, bacteria, and certain insects are examples of ______________ that break down dead organic matter in an ecosystem.
the ______________ level represents green plants, algae, and some bacteria that use sunlight to produce energy - rich organic compounds.
predatory fish at the ______________ of a marine food web are affected if overfished, potentially causing disruptions in the ecosystem.
keystone species like sea otters control the population of ______________ in kelp forest ecosystems, preventing overgrazing of kelp.
the absence of wolves in yellowstone national park led to an increase in the population of ______________.
the hypothetical scenario of overfishing predatory fish can cause a surge in the population of ______________ fish due to reduced predation pressure.
the ______________ in an ecosystem directly benefit from the alteration of the landscape created by elephants in savanna ecosystems.
______________ species play a disproportionately influential role in an ecosystem, impacting biodiversity beyond their abundance.

Explanation:

• Producers convert sunlight to organic matter via photosynthesis.
• Carnivores (e.g., lions, wolves) prey on other animals.
• Decomposers (fungi, bacteria, certain insects) break down dead organic matter.
• Primary producers (green plants, algae, some bacteria) use sunlight to produce energy - rich organic compounds.
• Top of a food web: predatory fish at the top are affected by overfishing.
• Sea urchins: keystone species (sea otters) control their population in kelp forests.
• Grazers: absence of wolves (predators) led to an increase in grazer (e.g., elk) population.
• Smaller: overfishing predatory fish reduces predation pressure, causing a surge in smaller fish population.
• Primary producers: in savanna, elephants' landscape alteration benefits primary producers.
• Keystone: keystone species have a disproportionately influential role in an ecosystem.

Answer:

1. photosynthesis
2. Carnivores
3. decomposers
4. primary producers
5. top
6. sea urchin
7. grazers
8. smaller
9. primary producers
10. keystone