4.12 Food Chains, Food Webs, and Ecosystem Stability

Primary consumer

Tertiary consumer

Producer

Secondary consumer

Increased pollution leads to algae blooms, which decrease oxygen levels and harm fish populations.

The overgrazing of grasslands by deer results in less vegetation, leading to more soil erosion.

An increase in rabbit population leads to more foxes, which then decreases the rabbit population.

More predators reduce herbivore numbers, leading to less plant growth, which harms herbivores.

Algae blooms deplete oxygen, causing fish deaths, which release nutrients that fuel more algae growth.

Fewer plants lead herbivores to new areas, allowing plants to recover.