Amoeba Sisters Food Webs and Energy Pyramids

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What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels.

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What is the 10% rule in energy transfer?

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The 10% rule states that when energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, only about 10% of the energy is passed on, while the rest is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes.

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Define biodiversity.

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of all types of organisms living in a given area, including different species, genetic variations, and ecosystems.

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What role do producers play in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants, produce food energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients, such as producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers.

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What happens to the number of organisms in a food web when a predator is introduced?

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The introduction of a new predator can decrease the population of its prey, which may lead to an increase in the population of the prey's food sources.

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

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A food chain is a linear sequence showing how energy flows from one organism to another, while a food web is a more complex network of interconnected food chains.

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What are abiotic factors?

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Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil, that influence living organisms.

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How do decomposers contribute to an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth and maintains ecosystem health.

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What is the significance of keystone species in a food web?

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Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem, helping to maintain the structure and balance of the food web.