Food webs, cycling of matter and flow of energy

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that shows how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants) to obtain energy.

Front

What role do producers play in a food web?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis and form the base of the food web.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for all food webs?

Back

Sunlight is the primary source of energy for all food webs.

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers and is typically at the top of the food chain.

Front

How does energy flow in a food web?

Back

Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and finally to tertiary consumers.

Front

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

Back

If a primary consumer is removed, the population of producers may increase, while the populations of secondary and tertiary consumers may decrease due to lack of food.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, while a food web is a complex network of many interconnected food chains.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers.