Ecosystems: Food Chains and Food WEbs

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, and climate).

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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.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that shows how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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What is a producer?

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A producer is an organism that can make its own food through photosynthesis, such as plants.

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What is a consumer?

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A consumer is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other organisms for energy.

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What is a carnivore?

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A carnivore is a consumer that primarily eats other animals.

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What is an herbivore?

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An herbivore is a consumer that primarily eats plants.

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What is an omnivore?

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An omnivore is a consumer that eats both plants and animals.

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What does an energy pyramid represent?

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An energy pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, showing how energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid.

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How much energy is typically passed from one trophic level to the next?

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Typically, only about 10% of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.