Food Chains, Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids

Front

What is the role of producers in a food chain?

Back

Producers, such as plants, obtain energy through photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; for example, a rabbit that eats grass.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the trophic levels in a food chain?

Back

Only about 10% of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level, while the rest is lost as heat.

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

How do decomposers fit into a food chain?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the cycle of energy flow.

Front

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

Back

Arrows indicate the direction of energy flow from one organism to another.

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.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which energy flows, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.

Front

What is an example of a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; for example, a shrew that eats a rabbit.

Front

What is the energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.