Flashcard: Food Chains and Food Webs

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.

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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.

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What is a producer?

Back

A producer is an organism, typically a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis, serving as the base of the 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 decomposer?

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A decomposer is an organism, such as fungi or bacteria, that breaks down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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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 most food chains, providing the energy needed for producers to create food through photosynthesis.

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What does the term 'trophic level' refer to?

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Trophic level refers to the position an organism occupies in a food chain, which is determined by its feeding relationships.

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What is the difference between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?

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Herbivores eat only plants, carnivores eat only animals, and omnivores eat both plants and animals.

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What is an example of a primary consumer?

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An example of a primary consumer is a deer, which feeds on plants.

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What is an example of a secondary consumer?

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An example of a secondary consumer is a snake, which feeds on primary consumers like mice.