Food webs and energy flow

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow between different organisms.

Front

What is the role of producers in a food web?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

Front

What is the difference between a predator and prey?

Back

A predator is an organism that hunts and eats other organisms (prey) for energy.

Front

What is energy flow in an ecosystem?

Back

Energy flow refers to the transfer of energy from one organism to another through food chains and food webs.

Front

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

Back

The arrows indicate the direction of energy flow from one organism to another.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Back

The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is sunlight.

Front

How do decomposers fit into a food web?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the cycle of energy flow.

Front

What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?

Back

As energy moves up the food chain, it decreases due to energy loss at each trophic level, primarily as heat.

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 energy.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species in a food web?

Back

Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem, helping to maintain the structure and balance of the food web.