Food Chain & Food Web Practice

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

Front

Define producer in an ecosystem.

Back

Producers are organisms, typically plants or algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, serving as the primary source of energy in a food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores that obtain energy by consuming plants.

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What is a secondary consumer?

Back

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?

Back

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

Front

What is the role of decomposers in a food web?

Back

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.

Front

What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

Back

Approximately 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

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 producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer.

Front

Give an example of a quaternary consumer.

Back

An example of a quaternary consumer is a red hawk, which is at the top of the food chain and preys on tertiary consumers.