Food Chains and Food Webs

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What is a food chain?

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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.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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What are producers?

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Producers are organisms, such as plants and phytoplankton, that produce their own food through photosynthesis and serve as the base of the food chain.

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What are primary consumers?

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Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers; they are typically herbivores, such as zooplankton and snails.

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What are secondary consumers?

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Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores, such as mice and ducks.

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What are tertiary consumers?

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Tertiary consumers are organisms that eat secondary consumers; they are often top predators in the food chain, such as foxes.

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What is an omnivore?

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An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants (producers) and animals (consumers), such as ducks.

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What is a carnivore?

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A carnivore is an organism that primarily eats other animals, such as foxes.

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What is a herbivore?

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A herbivore is an organism that only eats plants, such as snails.

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How is energy lost in a food chain?

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Most energy is lost in a food chain as heat during metabolic processes, such as respiration.