Food Chains and Food Webs

What is the primary function of a food chain in an ecosystem?

• To show how animals communicate

• To illustrate the flow of energy between organisms

• To describe the physical structure of an ecosystem

• To list all the animals in a habitat

Where does all food energy ultimately originate from?

• The soil

• The sun

• Other animals

• Decomposers

Organisms that produce their own food are known as what?

• Consumers

• Heterotrophs

• Producers

• Carnivores

Approximately how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain?

• 100%

• 50%

• 25%

• 10%

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What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• Produce their own food using sunlight.

• Eat other animals for energy.

• Break down dead organisms and waste, returning nutrients to the soil.

• Hunt and kill live prey.

How do food webs differ from food chains?

• Food webs only show producers, while food chains show all trophic levels.

• Food webs are a model of intersecting food chains, showing more complex feeding relationships.

• Food chains are more accurate representations of energy flow than food webs.

• Food webs only include decomposers, while food chains include consumers.

What do the arrows in a food chain or food web indicate?

• The direction of animal migration.

• The flow of energy through an ecosystem.

• The path of water in the environment.

• The growth direction of plants.

What is the role of scavengers in an ecosystem?

• They produce their own food from sunlight.

• They hunt live prey for food.

• They eat dead remains instead of breaking them down.

• They convert dead material into nutrients for the soil.