Food Chains and Webs Flashcard

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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, showing 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 and serves as the base of the food chain.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers; they are often top predators in the food chain.

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What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil and helping to maintain the ecosystem's health.

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What is a keystone species?

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A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, helping to maintain the structure of the ecosystem.

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What is the role of the sun in a food chain?

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The sun provides the energy necessary for producers to create food through photosynthesis, which is the starting point of all food chains.

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What is an example of a primary consumer?

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An example of a primary consumer is a rabbit, which eats grass (a producer).