ENERGY FLOW
How does energy transfer from producers to carnivores?
animals that eat plants eat the producers, and then carnivores eat those animals
What would happen to an ecosystem if a key species went extinct?
it could disrupt the food web and harm other populations
What is an example of a consumer that eats a producer in a forest ecosystem?
answers will vary
What is the difference between a herbivore and a carnivore?
a herbivore eats plants, while a carnivore eats animals
A living thing that eats other living things
consumer
Why would carnivores eventually go extinct without the Sun?
because plants, which are at the base of all food chains, cannot grow without sunlight
How does the loss of decomposers affect an ecosystem?
dead material builds up, and nutrients aren’t recycled
What happens if all the producers in a food chain are removed?
the rest of the food chain collapses because no energy is available
What is the main difference between producers and consumers in how they obtain energy?
producers make their own energy through photosynthesis, while consumers get energy by eating other organisms
An animal that is hunted by and eaten by another animal
prey
What materials do producers use to make food?
water, air, and nutrients from the soil
Which of the following is the BEST example of a food chain?
a) Grass → Rabbit → Fox
b) Sun → Water → Soil
c) Plant → Tree → Forest
d) Rock → Moss → Deer
a) Grass → Rabbit → Fox
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
What is a food chain is a single pathway of energy flow, while a food web shows interconnected food chains
What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?
break down dead plant and animal matter
the tiny holes on plant leaves that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen
stomata