Flashcard: Food Chains and Food Webs

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.

Front

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 role do producers play in a food chain?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.

Front

What is a herbivore?

Back

A herbivore is an organism that primarily eats plants and plant-based materials.

Front

What is a carnivore?

Back

A carnivore is an organism that primarily eats other animals.

Front

What is an omnivore?

Back

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

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

Front

How does energy flow in a food chain?

Back

Energy flows from producers to primary consumers, then to secondary consumers, and so on, with energy decreasing at each trophic level.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for all food chains?

Back

The primary source of energy for all food chains is the Sun.

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 through metabolic processes and heat.