Food Chains, Food Webs, and Ecological 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, such as 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 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 herbivores?

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Herbivores are a type of consumer that exclusively eat plants.

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What are carnivores?

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Carnivores are consumers that primarily eat other animals.

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What are omnivores?

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Omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals.

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What is an ecological pyramid?

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An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of energy, biomass, or numbers of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

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What is the energy transfer in a food chain?

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Energy transfer in a food chain refers to the movement of energy from one trophic level to the next, with only about 10% of the energy being passed on to the next level.

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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 that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients.