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Video Unit 2-2 Understanding Food Chains and Webs
Nov 29, 2024
Food Chains and Food Webs
Introduction
Food Chains
: Represent a linear flow of chemical energy through an ecosystem.
Food Webs
: Show all the food chains in an ecosystem, highlighting feeding relationships and energy flow.
Chemical Energy Flow
Producers
:
Aquatic Ecosystems: Microscopic phytoplankton and algae.
Land Ecosystems: Trees, grasses, and other plant species.
Autotrophs
: Organisms that produce their own food; the source of chemical energy in an ecosystem.
Transfer of Energy
From Producers to Consumers
:
Herbivores
: Consume plants and receive energy from producers.
Carnivores
: Receive energy by consuming herbivores; energy flows from prey to predator.
Flow of Energy
:
Represented by arrows in a food chain, indicating one-directional flow.
Once transferred, energy cannot flow back.
Importance of Food Webs
Demonstrates species interdependence and biodiversity.
Changes in one species can have cascading effects on others; affects are often unpredictable.
Example: A decrease in zebra population affects predators and potentially supports more giraffes and lions.
Ecosystem Stability
:
More biodiversity = more connections in the food web = more stability.
Loss of species threatens entire ecosystems.
Conclusion
Ecosystems often recover from changes, but stability depends on the complexity and interconnectivity of the food web.
The loss of biodiversity may threaten ecosystem function, highlighting the significance of food chains and webs in maintaining ecological balance.
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