Food Chains & 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, typically starting with a producer and ending with a top predator.

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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 multiple pathways of energy flow.

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How does energy transfer in a food pyramid?

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Energy transfer in a food pyramid typically follows the 10% rule, where only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next level.

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What happens to a food web if a primary consumer is removed?

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Removing a primary consumer can lead to an increase in the population of producers and a decrease in the population of secondary consumers that rely on that primary consumer for food.

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What is a producer in a food chain?

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A producer is an organism, usually a plant or algae, 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 that feed on plants.

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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 is the role of decomposers in a food web?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers, thus playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling.

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What effect does overpopulation of a species have on a food web?

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Overpopulation of a species can lead to resource depletion, increased competition, and potential collapse of the ecosystem due to imbalance.