Food Chains/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 is a producer?

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A producer is an organism, usually a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis, serving as the primary source of energy in a food chain.

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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 (plants or animals) to obtain energy.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an herbivore that eats producers (plants) in a food chain.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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A secondary consumer is a carnivore that eats primary consumers in a food chain.

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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A tertiary consumer is a predator that eats secondary consumers in a food chain.

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What is a decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead or decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

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What is a detritivore?

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A detritivore is an organism that feeds on dead organic material, helping to break it down into smaller pieces.

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What role does the sun play in a food chain?

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The sun is the primary source of energy for all food chains, as it provides the energy needed for producers to create food through photosynthesis.