Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Pyramids

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 to various levels of consumers.

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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 a producer?

Back

A producer is an organism, typically a plant, 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 eats producers; they are usually herbivores that obtain energy by consuming plants.

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What is a secondary consumer?

Back

A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism, such as mold or bacteria, that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil.

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, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid.

Front

How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

Back

The arrows in a food chain indicate the direction of energy flow from one organism to another.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how an organism obtains its energy.