What role do decomposers play in a food chain?
Decomposers break down dead and decaying organisms, recycling essential nutrients back into the ecosystem, thus facilitating nutrient cycling and soil fertility.
Why are food chains important in an ecosystem?
Food chains illustrate the transfer of energy and nutrients from one organism to another within an ecosystem, highlighting the interdependence of different species and helping maintain ecological balance.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is a linear sequence showing energy flow between organisms. A food web is a complex network of many interconnected food chains showing the various paths through which energy and nutrients flow in an ecosystem.
What are the different types of consumers in a food chain?
Consumers are classified into several types based on their diet: Herbivores: Consume plants. Carnivores: Eat other animals. Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals. Scavengers: Feed on dead organisms. Parasites: Live off other living organisms, often harming them.
How does a food chain start and end?
A food chain starts with producers, such as plants and algae, that generate food through photosynthesis. It ends with decomposers like bacteria and fungi that break down dead organic matter.
What is a food chain?
A food chain describes the sequence of who eats whom in an ecosystem to show the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another.
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