Changes to Food Chains

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

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

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, like plants and phytoplankton, that create their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.

Front

What are consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on eating other organisms for energy.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next.

Front

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

Back

Typically, only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Front

What is biomass?

Back

Biomass refers to the total mass of living matter in a given area or volume, often used to measure the amount of energy available in an ecosystem.

Front

How does a reduction in a predator population affect prey populations?

Back

A reduction in a predator population can lead to an increase in prey populations, as there are fewer predators to consume them.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem and supporting the growth of producers.

Front

What happens to the population of a species if its primary food source increases?

Back

If the primary food source of a species increases, the population of that species is likely to increase as well due to more available resources.