Food Web and Food Chain Review

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each organism is eaten by the next one in the chain, showing the flow of energy and nutrients.

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

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must consume other organisms for energy, such as animals.

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 the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, or autotrophs, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?

Back

As energy moves up the food chain, it decreases significantly, with only about 10% being passed to the next trophic level.

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What is a primary consumer?

Back

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

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

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

Front

What impact does the extinction of a top predator have on an ecosystem?

Back

The extinction of a top predator can lead to an increase in the population of primary consumers, which may result in overgrazing and depletion of producers.