Understand food chains and food webs

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Middle School Life Science › Understand food chains and food webs

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

all of these

are the top predators

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

are heterotrophs

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.

2

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

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

grass

grasshopper

frog

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.

3

The first organism in a food chain MUST be ______ ?

an autotroph.

a heterotroph.

a consumer.

an herbivore.

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.

4

Screen shot 2020 06 04 at 7.57.41 am

Which of the organisms in this food chain are autotrophs?

phytoplankton

zooplankton

large shark

all of these

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.

5

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

predator and a scavenger.

heterotroph and an autotroph.

consumer and a decomposer.

all of these

none of these

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.

6

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

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

it does not show the direction of energy transfer

it does not show how efficiently energy is transferred

it shows indirect relationships between organisms

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.

7

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

wheat -> mouse -> snake -> hawk

It converts radiation energy into chemical energy.

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

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

It provides habitat for all the animals.

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.

8

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

food chain

food web

trophic level

trophic cascade

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.

9

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?

Killer whales

crustacean

dolphin

fish

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.

10

Screen shot 2020 06 08 at 11.23.26 am

According to this food web, what feeds on bacteria?

nematodes, arthropods, and protozoa

organic matter

fungi and nematodes

organic matter, nematodes, 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.

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