Energy Flow Literacy

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy flows from one organism to another in an ecosystem, illustrating one specific path of energy transfer.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing all the possible feeding relationships among organisms.

Front

How do food chains and food webs differ?

Back

A food chain shows only one path of energy flow, whereas a food web shows all the possible food chains in an ecosystem.

Front

What is a producer in a food web?

Back

A producer is an organism that creates its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, serving as the base of the food web.

Front

What role do decomposers play in a food web?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil for producers to use.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers (plants) for energy, typically herbivores.

Front

What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers (herbivores) for energy, often carnivores.

Front

What is a tertiary consumer?

Back

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

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy at different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the energy pyramid?

Back

As energy moves up the energy pyramid, it decreases, with each level receiving less energy than the one below.