🌱 PRODUCERS POWER
This type of organism makes its own food using sunlight.
Producer (ex: plants, algae)
This type of organism must eat other living things to get energy.
Consumer
These organisms break down or eat dead plants and animals. (2 answers)
Decomposers and Detritivores
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows one path of energy flow. A food web shows many connected paths.
If a new predator enters an ecosystem, what might happen to prey populations?
Prey populations may decrease.
Name two things plants need to make their own food.
Sunlight, water, carbon dioxide (air).
(Students may also mention nutrients from soil.)
Give an example of a herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore.
Herbivore: rabbit, deer
Carnivore: fox, hawk
Omnivore: bear, human
Name two examples of decomposers.
Fungi and bacteria (earthworms acceptable as detritivores)
Where does every food web start?
With producers (plants).
If an insect eats large amounts of grass and nothing eats the insect, what could happen to other animals?
Other herbivores may have less food, which could affect predators too.
Why are plants called the “base” of a food web?
Because all energy in the food web starts with plants. They provide energy for all other organisms.
Why do animals need energy? Name at least three reasons.
To move, grow, heal, stay warm, reproduce, and carry out life processes.
Why are decomposers important to soil?
They return nutrients to the soil so plants can reuse them.
Describe one complete path in a food web using the words: producer, consumer, decomposer.
Grass (producer) → rabbit (consumer) → fox (consumer) → fungi (decomposer).
(Any accurate example works.)
How could removing one species affect many others?
Because food webs are connected; removing one species changes food availability for others.
If all plants disappeared from an ecosystem, what would happen first?
Herbivores (Primary Consumers) would lose their food source. Eventually, carnivores would also decline.
If a rabbit population decreases, what might happen to foxes? Why?
Fox population may decrease because they have less food available.
What would happen if decomposers suddenly disappeared?
Dead organisms would pile up.
Nutrients would not return to the soil.
Plants would eventually struggle to grow.
True or False (and explain): All food chains end with top predators.
False. All paths eventually end with decomposers because matter is recycled.
Why is balance important in an ecosystem?
(What are the consequences of a balanced ecosystem?)
Balance keeps populations stable and ensures energy and nutrients continue to move properly.
Explain how matter from air can become part of a tree.
Trees take in carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis and use it to build sugars, which become part of the tree’s structure.
Explain the difference between energy flow and matter cycling in an ecosystem.
Energy flows one way (and is eventually lost as heat), while matter is recycled through decomposers and reused in the ecosystem.
How do decomposers help producers survive?
They recycle nutrients back into the soil, which producers need to grow.
Explain why matter can cycle in an ecosystem but energy cannot.
Matter is reused and recycled by decomposers. Energy flows one direction and is eventually lost as heat.
Create your own ecosystem change scenario and explain two possible effects.
(Feel free to use a food web from class as an example for your explanation.)
Answers will vary. Must clearly explain two logical cause-and-effect outcomes.