Food Chains/Food Webs

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter into simpler substances, recycling nutrients back into the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

Define an omnivore.

Back

An omnivore is an organism that consumes both plants and animals for energy.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients flow among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

Which level of the food chain typically has the least amount of energy?

Back

The top predators, such as owls, typically receive the least amount of energy because energy decreases as it moves up the food chain.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most food chains?

Back

The primary source of energy for most food chains is the sun, which is harnessed by producers through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the difference between a producer and a consumer?

Back

Producers are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, while consumers are organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms.

Front

Give an example of a primary consumer.

Back

A primary consumer is an herbivore that eats producers; for example, a grasshopper that eats grass.

Front

What is the significance of trophic levels in a food chain?

Back

Trophic levels represent the different stages in a food chain, indicating the flow of energy and the position of organisms in relation to energy transfer.

Front

How do energy pyramids illustrate energy flow in ecosystems?

Back

Energy pyramids visually represent the amount of energy available at each trophic level, showing that energy decreases as it moves up from producers to top predators.