2.2.8 Disruption to Food Chains and Webs

Question 1

What is meant by interdependence between organisms?

Answer 1

When living organisms depend on one another to survive

Question 2

How are organisms in a food web interdependent?

Answer 2

If one organism dies out then there is no food for other organisms so they will die out.

Question 3

If the producer in a food web dies out what happens to the other organisms in the food web?

Answer 3

They will all die out as no energy can enter the food chain.

Question 4

What is bioaccumlation?

Answer 4

When chemicals transfer along a food chain and are stored in an animals body.

Question 5

Give an example of a chemical that can bioaccumlate

Answer 5

Pesticide
Insecticide
Mercury

Question 6

Name a pesticide/Insecticide that was used to stop insects eating farmers crops until it was discovered that it bioaccumulates

Answer 6

DDT

Question 7

What effect did DDT have on birds?

Answer 7

It made their egg shells thin so that they broke before their chicks had developed. Bird population decreased.