Middle School Life Science : Understand food chains and food webs

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

Which of these is defined as "a series of organisms through which nutrients and energy move"?

Possible Answers:

food web

food chain

trophic cascade

trophic level

Correct answer:

food chain

Explanation:

The answer is "food chain."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #2 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

Screen shot 2020 06 04 at 7.49.01 am

Which of these organisms in the food chain receives the LEAST amount of energy from their prey?

Possible Answers:

crustacean

Killer whales

fish

dolphin

Correct answer:

Killer whales

Explanation:

The answer is "Killer Whales" because they are at the top of the food chain, and energy transfer is inefficient. Only about 10% of energy moves from one organism to the next.

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

 

Example Question #2 : Interdependent Relationships In Ecosystems

Screen shot 2020 06 04 at 7.57.41 am

Which of the organisms in this food chain are autotrophs?

Possible Answers:

zooplankton

phytoplankton

all of these

large shark

Correct answer:

phytoplankton

Explanation:

The answer is "phytoplankton."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #3 : Interdependent Relationships In Ecosystems

Screen shot 2020 06 08 at 11.23.26 am

According to this food web, what feeds on bacteria?

Possible Answers:

nematodes, arthropods, and protozoa

organic matter

organic matter, nematodes, protozoa

fungi and nematodes

Correct answer:

nematodes, arthropods, and protozoa

Explanation:

The answer is "nematodes, arthropods, and protozoa."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

Example Question #1 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

What is a limitation of a food chain as a representation of energy transfer?

Possible Answers:

it does not show how efficiently energy is transferred

it does not show the direction of energy transfer

it does not show all the predator/prey relationships like a food web

it shows indirect relationships between organisms

Correct answer:

it does not show all the predator/prey relationships like a food web

Explanation:

The answer is "it does not show all the predator/prey relationships like a food web"

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #1 : Interdependent Relationships In Ecosystems

In a food chain, the animals on the highest trophic level:

Possible Answers:

are heterotrophs

are the top predators

all of these

receive the smallest proportion of energy transferred from the bottom of the chain

Correct answer:

all of these

Explanation:

The answer is "all of these."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

Example Question #1 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

In this food chain, which species would have the smallest number of individuals?

grass -> grasshopper -> frog -> snake -> hawk

Possible Answers:

grasshopper

grass

frog

hawk

Correct answer:

hawk

Explanation:

The answer is "hawk."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #2 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

The first organism in a food chain MUST be ______ ?

Possible Answers:

an herbivore.

a heterotroph.

an autotroph.

a consumer.

Correct answer:

an autotroph.

Explanation:

The answer is "an autotroph" because they convert sunlight into chemical energy.

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #8 : Interdependent Relationships In Ecosystems

Hyenas can kill small animals for food, but they also feed on dead organisms. Hyenas are both a ________?

Possible Answers:

consumer and a decomposer.

none of these

predator and a scavenger.

all of these

heterotroph and an autotroph.

Correct answer:

predator and a scavenger.

Explanation:

The answer is "predator and a scavenger."

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

Example Question #2 : Understand Food Chains And Food Webs

What is the role of wheat in the food chain below?

wheat -> mouse -> snake -> hawk

Possible Answers:

It provides seeds for the snake and the hawk to eat.

It acts as a shelter for the mouse hiding from snakes.

It converts radiation energy into chemical energy.

It provides habitat for all the animals.

Correct answer:

It converts radiation energy into chemical energy.

Explanation:

The answer is "It converts radiation energy into chemical energy" because the purpose of a food chain is to illustrate the transfer of energy.

The transfer of energy in ecosystems occurs when organisms consume one another. Energy is transferred from the organism that is consumed to the organism that does the consuming. A food chain is a representation of this, and shows the “chain” of organisms through which nutrients and energy move.

In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from where the chain begins, with “producers” or “autotrophs” at the bottom, collecting energy from the sun. As you move up the food chain, more and more energy is lost to heat and used by organisms so top predators need to consume more prey to get the same amount of energy from the trophic level below them. Food webs consist of many interconnected food chains and are a more realistic representation of consumption relationships in ecosystems.

 

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