Understanding Food Web Dynamics

Mr. Nelson introduces a video lesson on food chains and food webs, emphasizing the flow of energy through ecosystems. The lesson explains how food chains and webs illustrate the interdependence of organisms, with arrows indicating energy flow. Key components like producers, consumers, and decomposers are discussed, highlighting their roles in maintaining ecological balance. The video encourages students to observe and create their own food chains and webs, reinforcing the importance of each species in the ecosystem.

What is the primary purpose of arrows in food chain diagrams?

• To represent the speed of consumption

• To indicate the size of organisms

• To display the color of organisms

• To show the direction of energy flow

In a lake ecosystem, what might happen if all shrimp were removed?

• The fish population would increase

• The bear population would remain unchanged

• The fish population would decrease

• The bear population would increase

Which of the following is a producer in a food web?

• A bear

• A plant

• A fish

• A shrimp

What role do decomposers play in a food web?

• They consume primary consumers

• They compete with producers for sunlight

• They produce energy from sunlight

• They break down dead organisms

Why is it important to protect every species in a food web?

• To ensure the survival of only the largest species

• To increase the number of primary consumers

• To reduce the number of decomposers

• To maintain balance and prevent environmental chaos

What is a food web?

• A list of all species in an ecosystem

• A single food chain

• A network of interconnected food chains

• A diagram showing only producers

In a food web, what is a primary consumer?

• An organism that produces its own food

• An organism that decomposes dead matter

• An organism that eats secondary consumers

• An organism that eats producers

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

• Nothing changes in the ecosystem

• Only the removed species is affected

• It can cause a ripple effect impacting many species

• The number of producers will increase

What is the role of a secondary consumer in a food chain?

• To eat primary consumers

• To produce energy from the sun

• To decompose organic matter

• To compete with producers for resources

How can humans impact food webs?

• By increasing the number of producers

• By removing or adding species, disrupting balance

• By ensuring all species are primary consumers

• By preventing decomposers from functioning