Food Chains and Energy Flow

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 are producers in a food chain?

Back

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

Front

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 is a tertiary consumer?

Back

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

Front

What is the role of decomposers in a food chain?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the cycle of energy flow.

Front

What does the arrow in a food chain represent?

Back

The arrow indicates the direction of energy flow from one organism to another, showing who is eating whom.

Front

What is the difference between herbivores and carnivores?

Back

Herbivores are animals that eat plants, while carnivores are animals that eat other animals.

Front

What are omnivores?

Back

Omnivores are organisms that consume both plants and animals for energy.

Front

Why do energy levels decrease as you move up the food chain?

Back

Energy decreases at each trophic level due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.