food chains and food webs

Question 1

definition of a food chain

Answer 1

a food chain is a series of organisms, beginning with the producer, through which energy and nutrients are transferred through a linear and cyclical pathway respectively

Question 2

why is energy transfer along the food chain inefficient

Answer 2

about 90% of the energy is lost as it passes from one trophic level to another. energy is lost as heat during respiration and transferred to uneaten body parts like faeces. food chains are therefore generally short as there is insufficient energy to support a big chain

Question 3

what is the sequence of consumers in a food chain

Answer 3

producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and apex predators