Food Chain Basics
What is a food chain?
A sequence that shows who eats whom in an ecosystem
Name one example of a producer
Grass, algae, etc.
What is an apex predator?
A predator at the top of the food chain with no natural predators
What is an ecosystem?
A community of organisms interacting with their environment.
True or False: All predators are apex predators.
False
What is the first organism in most food chains?
Producer/plants
What is a primary consumer?
An organism that eats producers
True or False: Lions are apex predators
True
What is the habitat of a polar bear?
Arctic regions/ice-covered oceans
True or False: Snakes are always at the top of the food chain
False
What do arrows in a food chain represent?
The flow of energy or "eats" relationship
What is a decomposer’s role in the food chain?
Breaks down dead material and recycles nutrients
Name an apex predator that lives in the ocean
Shark, Orca, etc
Name a predator-prey relationship
Fox and rabbit, hawk and mouse, etc
True or False: Wolves hunt in packs to catch bigger prey.
True
What happens if a link in a food chain is removed?
It can disrupt the whole ecosystem
Are mushrooms producers, consumers, or decomposers?
Decomposers
What adaptations help apex predators survive?
Sharp teeth, speed, camouflage, etc
What could happen if apex predators disappeared?
Prey populations might grow too large, disrupting balance
True or False: Apex predators have the most energy in the food chain
False – least energy
Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web.
A food web shows multiple connections; a food chain is linear
Place these in order: Eagle, Grass, Rabbit, Bacteria.
Grass → Rabbit → Eagle → Bacteria
Why are apex predators important to ecosystems?
They control populations and maintain balance
What is the difference between a carnivore and an omnivore?
Carnivore eats meat only; omnivore eats plants and animals
True or False: Removing one species never affects others
False