Food Chains and Webs

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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, that can make their own food through photosynthesis, serving as 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.

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What are decomposers?

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Decomposers are organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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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, illustrating that energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid.

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

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As energy moves up the food chain, it decreases due to energy loss through metabolic processes, heat, and waste.

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What role do herbivores play in a food chain?

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Herbivores are primary consumers that eat plants (producers) and serve as a food source for carnivores.

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What role do carnivores play in a food chain?

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Carnivores are secondary or tertiary consumers that eat other animals, helping to control populations of herbivores.

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What is the significance of the sun in a food chain?

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The sun is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems, providing the energy needed for photosynthesis in producers.

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