Food Chains and Food Webs

Front

What are decomposers?

Back

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

Front

What role do mushrooms play in food webs?

Back

Mushrooms act as decomposers in many food webs, obtaining nutrients from breaking down organic matter.

Front

What is the primary function of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers use sunlight to make food through the process of photosynthesis.

Front

Why are zooplankton important in an ecosystem?

Back

Zooplankton are crucial as they serve as a primary food source for many aquatic animals, and their removal can destabilize the ecosystem.

Front

What happens when water used to cool machinery is returned to a river?

Back

It raises the river's temperature, which can lead to a decline in small invertebrate populations.

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.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

Front

Define herbivore.

Back

Herbivores are organisms that primarily eat plants.

Front

Define carnivore.

Back

Carnivores are organisms that primarily eat other animals.

Front

Define omnivore.

Back

Omnivores are organisms that eat both plants and animals.