5 Questions
Which of the following best describes a food chain?
A direct pathway of one animal at a time
What is the role of decomposer species in a food chain?
They break down dead organic matter
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is linear, while a food web is a complex network
Who first introduced the concept of food chains?
Charles Elton
What is a common metric used to quantify food web trophic structure?
Food chain length
Study Notes
Food Chain Basics
- A food chain is a series of organisms that eat other organisms, with each level being consumed by the next level.
- It shows how energy and nutrients are passed from one organism to another.
Decomposers in Food Chains
- Decomposer species, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter into simple nutrients.
- These nutrients are then reused by producers, such as plants, to fuel the next generation of organisms.
Food Chain vs. Food Web
- A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms, whereas a food web is a complex network of multiple food chains interconnected.
- Food webs show how different organisms are connected and interact with each other.
History of Food Chains
- The concept of food chains was first introduced by Charles Elton in 1927.
Measuring Food Web Structure
- The trophic level is a common metric used to quantify food web trophic structure.
- It represents the position of an organism in the food chain, with producers at the base (trophic level 1) and apex predators at the top.
Test your knowledge on food chains and understand the relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. Explore topics such as producers, apex predators, detritivores, and decomposers.
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