Food Web

A food web is a model that shows how different food chains in an ecosystem are interconnected. It represents the flow of energy and the transfer of matter through the different organisms within an ecosystem.

Key Concepts

1. Producers: These are organisms, such as plants, that produce their own food through photosynthesis.
2. Consumers: These are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms for energy.
3. Primary Consumers: These are herbivores that eat producers for energy.
4. Secondary Consumers: These are carnivores that eat primary consumers.
5. Decomposers: These are organisms that break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.

Example Food Web

Here's an example of a food web in a forest ecosystem:

Forest Food Web">

Study Guide

1. Define a food web and explain its significance in an ecosystem.
2. List and describe the different types of organisms found in a food web.
3. Draw and label a food web for a specific ecosystem, such as a grassland or a pond.
4. Discuss the impact of changes in one population on the rest of the food web.
5. Identify and explain the role of keystone species in a food web.

Use this study guide to help you understand and remember the key concepts related to food webs!