Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
What is a producer?
An organism that makes its own food, like a plant.
What does a food chain show?
How energy flows from one organism to another
What is an ecosystem?
A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Name one factor necessary for plant growth.
Sunlight, water, soil nutrients, or air.
Why are plants considered the base of the food chain?
Because they produce their own food using sunlight, supporting all other life forms.
Name a type of consumer
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore
How is a food web different from a food chain?
A food web shows multiple food chains and how they interconnect.
How can the removal of one species affect an ecosystem?
It can disrupt the food chain and lead to unforeseen consequences for other species.
Why do plants need sunlight?
It's necessary for photosynthesis, so plants can produce their own food.
What could be the effect of a long drought on a food web?
It could lead to a decrease in plant life, affecting the entire food chain.
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
They break down dead material, returning nutrients to the soil
Give an example of a primary consumer in a food chain.
Any herbivore, such as a rabbit.
What happens to an ecosystem when a new species is introduced?
It can lead to changes in the food web, potentially harming native species.
How does water affect plant growth?
It's necessary for photosynthesis and transporting nutrients within the plant.
If a disease killed off all the decomposers, what would be the immediate effect on the ecosystem?
Dead material would accumulate, and nutrients wouldn't return to the soil, affecting plant growth.