Food chains, Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids

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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 create their own food through photosynthesis and serve as the base of the food chain.

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What are primary consumers?

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Primary consumers are herbivores that eat producers (plants) to obtain energy.

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What are secondary consumers?

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Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores.

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What are tertiary consumers?

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Tertiary consumers are predators that eat secondary consumers and are often at the top of the food chain.

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What is an energy pyramid?

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An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem, with energy decreasing as you move up the pyramid.

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How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

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Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, while the rest is lost as heat.

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What happens to the population of producers if primary consumers increase?

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If primary consumers increase, the population of producers may decrease due to increased consumption.

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What is the role of decomposers in a food web?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.