Food Chains, Food Webs, & Energy Pyramids 2022

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

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 and moving to various levels of consumers.

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

Back

The arrows in a food chain indicate the direction of energy flow in an ecosystem, showing how energy moves from producers to consumers.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of energy among trophic levels in an ecosystem, with producers at the base and top-level predators at the apex.

Front

What is the primary source of energy in most ecosystems?

Back

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

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism, typically a plant or algae, that can make its own food through photosynthesis, serving as the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a primary consumer?

Back

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

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up trophic levels?

Back

As energy moves up trophic levels, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, with only about 10% of the energy being transferred to the next level.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients, such as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, etc.

Front

What might happen if a top predator is removed from an ecosystem?

Back

If a top predator is removed from an ecosystem, it can lead to an increase in the population of primary consumers, which may result in overgrazing and depletion of plant life.