Food Chains and Food 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, typically plants, 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 must eat other organisms for energy. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

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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 different trophic levels in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid.

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What percentage of energy is typically lost at each trophic level?

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Typically, about 90% of energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes and heat.

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What is a heterotroph?

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A heterotroph is an organism that obtains its energy by consuming other organisms, as opposed to producing its own food.

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What is an autotroph?

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An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy.

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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 convert the energy stored in plants into energy for themselves.