Farming

Question 1

What do food webs and food chains show?

Answer 1

How energy is transferred through an ecosystem

Question 2

What is each stage in a food chain called?

Answer 2

Trophic level

Question 3

What is the role of decomposers?

Answer 3

They break down dead or undigested material, allowing nutrients to be recycled

Question 4

How can the amount of energy available for human consumption be increased?

Answer 4

Simplifying food webs

Reduce respiratory loss

Question 5

How does simplifying food webs increase the efficiency of a food chain?

Answer 5

Get rid of food chains that don’t involve humans, energy losses will be reduced and the NPP of the crop will increased

Question 6

How do pests affect the efficiency of a food chain?

Answer 6

They reduce the amount of energy available for crop growth and therefore NPP of crops, ultimately reducing the amount of energy for humans

Question 7

How can pests be removed from the food chain?

Answer 7

Chemical pesticides used by farmers

Biological agents such as parasites and pathogenic bacteria and viruses

Question 8

How can respiratory loss be reduced?

Answer 8

Restrict movement of livestock

Pens are kept warm so less energy is used maintaining body temperature

Question 9

What are issues with reducing respiratory loss?

Answer 9

Ethical concerns for the welfare of animals

Question 10

What is the result of reducing respiratory loss?

Answer 10

More biomass is produced and more chemical energy can be stored, increasing net production and the efficiency of energy transfer to humans
More food can be produced in a shorter space of time