Food Webs

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that shows how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.

Front

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

Back

The primary source of energy for most food webs is the sun, which provides energy for photosynthesis in plants.

Front

What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain?

Back

About 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What are producers in a food web?

Back

Producers are organisms, such as plants and algae, that produce their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the food web.

Front

What role do consumers play in a food web?

Back

Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms for energy and can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary consumers.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy, such as producer or consumer.

Front

How do decomposers contribute to a food web?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.

Front

What is the significance of arrows in a food chain diagram?

Back

The arrows in a food chain diagram indicate the direction of energy flow from one organism to another.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?

Back

As energy moves up the food chain, it decreases significantly, with only about 10% being passed to the next level.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals, while abiotic factors are non-living components, such as water and soil.