Food Chains

Question 1

What is the first section in a food chain?

Answer 1

Producers such as plants, trees, shrubs and grass etc.

Question 2

The efficiency of food chains can be limited by a number of things which include what? Give at least 3

Answer 2

Solar energy, Temperature, water, nutrients, availability of space, respiration, excretion and movement

Question 3

How can solar energy limit the efficiency of food chains?

Answer 3

The light may be lost as it may be reflected by clouds or dust. It may also not fall on the chloroplasts of the plant

Question 4

How can temperature limit the efficiency of food chains?

Answer 4

The temperature of the plant may be too high causing the plant to denature. If it is lower than the optimal temperature this means the amount of energy produced will be limited

Question 5

How can water limit the efficiency of food chains?

Answer 5

May limit photosynthesis and therefore less energy will be produced

Question 6

How can nutrients limit the efficiency of food chains?

Answer 6

There may not be a huge amount of nutrients available which could cause the plant to become damaged.

Question 7

What is Gross Primary Production (GPP)?

What is Respiratory loss (R)?

Answer 7

GPP is the total amount of energy converted from light energy
Approximately 50% of the GPP is lost to the environment as heat energy when the plant respires this is known as R

Question 8

What is Net Primary Production (NPP)?

How can you calculate NPP?

Answer 8

NPP is the energy remaining after respiration.

NPP = GPP - R

Question 9

What is the first layer of the energy pyramid for a food chain?
What is the second layer of the energy pyramid for a food chain?
What is the third layer of the energy pyramid for a food chain?
What is the fourth layer of the energy pyramid for a food chain?
What is the fifth layer of the energy pyramid for a food chain?

Answer 9

Decomposers 
Primary Producers
Primary consumers
secondary consumers 
Tertiary consumers

Question 10

What % of energy gets passed on to the next trophic layer on the energy pyramid and why is this?

Answer 10

Only 10%. This is because heat energy is lost through respiration and loss of heat energy

Question 11

What are 3 advantages of a meat free/meat reduced diet?

Answer 11

Animals don’t have to be killed, It’s a sustainable diet and there are health benefits

Question 12

What are 3 disadvantages to a meat free/meat reduced diet?

Answer 12

It is a food chain, can cause deficiencies and it is a good source of protein