Food Webs Quiz: Questions and Answers for Biology Students

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of a food web in an ecosystem?

To represent the nutrient cycles in an ecosystem

To identify the species richness in an ecosystem

To show the energy flow from the sun to producers

To provide a complete picture of who consumes whom in an ecosystem (correct)

What percentage of total light falling on green plants is utilized for photosynthesis?

10%

20%

1% (correct)

What is the term for the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another?

Energy flow (correct)

Trophic level transfer

Energy cycle

Nutrient flow

What type of consumers can occupy more than one trophic level in a food web?

Multilevel consumers or omnivores Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which solar energy is transformed into chemical energy?

Photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem?

Food web Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of energy for most food chains in an ecosystem?

The sun Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the food chains that start from dead organic materials?

Detritus food chain Signup and view all the answers

At each linkage in the food chain, what happens to a major part of the energy from the food?

It is lost for daily activities Signup and view all the answers

How many links are usually present in a food chain?

Four to five Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the interconnected network of food chains in an ecosystem?

Food web Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a single species being linked to a large number of species in a food chain?

Increased complexity in the food web Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the energy as we go along the trophic levels?

A large portion of the energy is lost as heat and only a small fraction goes on to the next level. Signup and view all the answers

Why do food chains typically have fewer links?

Because energy is lost at each trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of a vegetarian diet in terms of energy availability?

It involves one step in energy transfer, minimizing energy loss. Signup and view all the answers

What is the complexity of food relations in natural ecosystems?

Complicated with many cross-links. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of energy loss at each trophic level?

The food chain becomes shorter. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of having fewer links in a food chain?

Limiting the support of a large human population. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Food Chains and Food Webs

When multiple food sources are available, food chains branch out and form a food web, providing a complete picture of who consumes whom in an ecosystem.
A food web represents the transfer of energy and nutrients among organisms in an ecosystem, while a food chain shows only one pathway.

Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

Energy is necessary for all biological activities, and its transfer from one trophic level to another is called energy flow.
Solar energy is transformed into chemical energy through photosynthesis, with only 1% of total light being utilized.
Energy flows from the sun to plants and then to heterotrophic organisms, including consumers.

Food Chains

Energy must pass from one living organism to another, with energy being transferred from plants to animals when herbivores feed on plants.
At each linkage in the chain, a major part of the energy is lost for daily activities, with most chains having only four to five links.
A single species may be linked to a large number of species, and food chains can be either Grazing (starting from green plants) or Detritus (starting from dead organic matter).

Trophic Levels

Every biological community can have multiple and diverse food chains, but every food chain starts with a primary source of energy.
Species can occupy more than one trophic level, with humans being an example of multilevel consumers or omnivores.
Energy decreases successively at each trophic level, with only a small fraction (about 10%) going on to the next level.

Implications of Energy Flow

The quantity of energy decreases rapidly from primary producers to the top consumer, explaining why food chains have fewer links.
Supporting a larger human population on a vegetarian diet could be possible, as it involves one step in energy transfer, minimizing energy loss.

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Description

Learn about the differences between food chains and food webs, and how they represent the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem. Understand how food chains are interconnected to form a food web, giving us a complete picture of an ecosystem.