Food Chains, Food Webs, and Ecololgical Pyramids

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What is a food chain?

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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?

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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 an ecological pyramid?

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An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of energy, biomass, or numbers of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

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Define producers in an ecosystem.

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Producers are organisms, typically plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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What is a primary consumer?

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A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are typically herbivores that obtain energy by consuming plants.

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What is a secondary consumer?

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

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What is a tertiary consumer?

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

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What does the pyramid of biomass represent?

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The pyramid of biomass represents the total mass of living matter at each trophic level in an ecosystem, showing how biomass decreases from producers to top consumers.

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How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

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Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, with the rest lost as heat.

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What is an omnivore?

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An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals, such as a parrot that consumes fruits, seeds, and insects.