Food Chains and Food Webs

Question 1

Define Food Chain

Answer 1

Displays the transfer of energy between a set of species

Question 2

Define Food Web

Answer 2

Integrates various food chains in an ecosystem to showcase various organisms.

Question 3

Define Trophic level

Answer 3

The levels of a food chain. Only 10% of energy transfers to the next level.

Question 4

Define Autotroph

Answer 4

An organism that can produce its own food using light, water carbon dioxide or other chemicals.

Question 5

Define Heterotroph

Answer 5

An organism that has to rely on consuming other organisms for food.

Question 6

Define Producer

Answer 6

Organisms that make their own food.

Question 7

Define Consumer

Answer 7

Organisms that consume other organisms for food.

Question 8

Identify and describe the primary source of energy for plants and animals in an ecosystem.

Answer 8

The primary source of energy for plants and animals is the Sun. Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis to producer their energy, which 10% of it gets taken up by consumers due to metabolic processes and waste removal processes.

Question 9

What is biomass?

Answer 9

The total mass or total quantity of living organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 10

What is a pyramid of biomass?

Answer 10

A pyramid that displays the biomass on each level, with producers on the base and the apex predators on the top. Only 10% of energy should make it to the next level.

Question 11

What is a pyramid of numbers?

Answer 11

A pyramid that displays the population (high to low) of each animal on each level. The base (producers) should have the largest population, whilst the top (apex predators) should have the smallest population for a stable pyramid.