Understanding Food Chains and Ecosystems

Why do all living things need to eat?

• To pass time

• To obtain energy for growth, movement, and warmth

• Because they are bored

• To have fun

What would likely happen if you give one plant more food than another?

• Neither of the plants grow

• The plant with more food grows more

• The plant with more food grows less

• Both plants grow the same

What is a food chain?

• A cooking recipe

• A chain made of food

• A model showing how energy flows between living things

• A fast-food restaurant chain

Who is at the top of the food chain?

• Humans

• Hawks

• Grass

• Rabbits

What role do plants play in a food chain?

• They convert sunlight into chemical energy

• They eat other plants

• They do not participate in food chains

• They hunt smaller animals

What is the primary source of energy in a food chain?

• The Moon

• Water

• Electricity

• The Sun

How do food webs differ from food chains?

• There is no difference

• Food chains show a single path of energy flow, while food webs show multiple paths

• Food chains are found in water, food webs on land

• Food webs are simpler

What happens if a species is removed from a food web?

• New species are automatically added

• It can cause a ripple effect, potentially collapsing the ecosystem

• The food web becomes stronger

• Nothing changes

Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem?

• They eat living plants

• They break down dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil

• They provide food for plants

• They create water sources

What can cause an ecosystem to change?

• Introduction of a new species or loss of an existing one

• A new shopping mall

• A sunny day

• A holiday season