Ecology - Food Webs

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1/15 cards
What is a food web?
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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different species are related through feeding relationships.
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How do producers contribute to a food web?
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Producers, like plants and algae, form the base of a food web by creating energy through photosynthesis, providing food for consumers.
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What role do primary consumers play in a food web?
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Primary consumers, or herbivores, feed on producers and serve as a food source for higher-level consumers.
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Why are apex predators important in a food web?
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Apex predators, at the top of the food web, help maintain ecosystem balance by controlling the population of prey species.
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What is the significance of decomposers in a food web?
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Decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, which supports producers.
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How can a change in one species affect a food web?
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A change in one species, like overpopulation or extinction, can alter the food web's balance, affecting all connected species.
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What is a trophic level?
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A trophic level is a position in a food web, representing a step in the energy flow through an ecosystem, such as producers, primary consumers, etc.
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Why are food webs more complex than food chains?
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Food webs are more complex because they show multiple pathways of energy flow and the interconnections between different species in an ecosystem.
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How do omnivores fit into a food web?
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Omnivores eat both plants and animals, straddling multiple trophic levels and connecting different parts of the food web.
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What is an energy pyramid, and how does it relate to a food web?
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An energy pyramid shows the energy distribution among trophic levels in a food web, decreasing as it moves from producers to top consumers.
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How does biodiversity affect the stability of a food web?
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Greater biodiversity increases food web stability as it allows for more complex interactions and redundancies, supporting ecosystem resilience.
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What effect does human activity have on food webs?
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Human activities like deforestation, pollution, and overfishing can disrupt food webs by affecting habitats and species populations.
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How do invasive species impact food webs?
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Invasive species can disrupt native food webs by outcompeting local species or introducing new predators or prey, altering ecosystem dynamics.
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Why is it important to conserve food webs?
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Conserving food webs helps maintain biodiversity, ecosystem services, and biological balance, ensuring the health of the entire ecosystem.
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What is a keystone species, and why is it crucial in a food web?
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A keystone species has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance, crucial for maintaining ecological balance.
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