Analyzing Changes to Food Webs

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow between different organisms.

Front

What role do producers play in a food web?

Back

Producers, such as plants and phytoplankton, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

Front

What are primary consumers?

Back

Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers; they are typically herbivores, such as rabbits and insects.

Front

What are secondary consumers?

Back

Secondary consumers are organisms that eat primary consumers; they can be carnivores or omnivores, such as spiders and birds.

Front

What is the significance of top predators in a food web?

Back

Top predators help maintain the balance of ecosystems by controlling the populations of other species, preventing overpopulation.

Front

What happens to a food web if a top predator is removed?

Back

Removing a top predator can lead to an increase in the populations of primary consumers, which may then overconsume producers.

Front

What is the 10% rule in energy transfer?

Back

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level in a food chain.

Front

How does overhunting affect food webs?

Back

Overhunting can disrupt food webs by decreasing the population of certain species, leading to imbalances and changes in predator-prey relationships.

Front

What is competition in an ecosystem?

Back

Competition occurs when two or more species vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or mates, which can affect their populations.

Front

What is predation?

Back

Predation is the interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey), influencing population dynamics.