Ecosystems - food chains and food webs

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (air, water, soil) in a specific area.

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What is a food chain?

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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?

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

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What are producers?

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Producers are organisms, like plants and algae, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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What are consumers?

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Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on eating other organisms for energy. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

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What is a herbivore?

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A herbivore is a type of consumer that primarily eats plants.

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What is a carnivore?

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A carnivore is a type of consumer that primarily eats other animals.

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What is a decomposer?

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Decomposers are organisms, like fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the cycle of matter in an ecosystem.

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What percentage of energy is typically passed from one trophic level to the next?

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Typically, only about 10% of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem.