Food Webs

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels.

Front

What is a biomass pyramid?

Back

A biomass pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the total mass of living matter at each trophic level in an ecosystem, typically decreasing from the base to the top.

Front

What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms, such as plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.

Front

What role do consumers play in a food web?

Back

Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

Front

What are decomposers?

Back

Decomposers are organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is sunlight, which is captured by producers through photosynthesis.

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 more complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the trophic levels?

Back

As energy moves up the trophic levels, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species in an ecosystem?

Back

Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem, helping to maintain its structure and balance.

Front

How does a decrease in rainfall affect a food web?

Back

A decrease in rainfall can lead to drought, affecting plant growth, which in turn impacts herbivores and the entire food web.