For Questions 9-12, complete the analogies.
omnivore: human :: carnivore:
detritivore: earthworm:: herbivore:
autotroph: heterotroph :: phytoplankton:
biotic factor: elephant:: abiotic factor:
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Here are the correct answers to the analogies:
- omnivore: human :: carnivore: lion
(A lion is an example of a carnivore, just as a human is an example of an omnivore.) - detritivore: earthworm :: herbivore: cow
(A cow is an example of a herbivore, just as an earthworm is an example of a detritivore.) - autotroph: heterotroph :: phytoplankton: zooplankton
(Zooplankton are heterotrophic organisms that consume phytoplankton, just as heterotrophs consume autotrophs.) - biotic factor: elephant :: abiotic factor: water
(Water is an abiotic (non-living) factor, just as an elephant is a biotic (living) factor.)
Difference Between a Food Chain and a Food Web
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. It follows a single path and includes producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers. For example, a simple food chain could be: grass → rabbit → fox → decomposers.
A food web, on the other hand, is a more complex and realistic representation of how multiple food chains interact in an ecosystem. It consists of many interconnected food chains, showing the feeding relationships between different organisms. This is important because most organisms consume more than one type of food, and they have multiple predators, making food webs a more accurate representation of natural ecosystems.
Key Differences
- Complexity: A food chain is a single pathway, while a food web consists of many interlinked pathways.
- Stability: Food webs provide ecosystem stability because if one species is removed, others can compensate, whereas food chains are more fragile.
- Energy Flow: A food chain shows one direct energy flow, but a food web depicts multiple interactions among species.
A food web is a more accurate way to understand how energy moves in an ecosystem because it reflects the complexity of feeding relationships. Predators, herbivores, omnivores, and decomposers all interact in multiple ways, ensuring a balanced environment.
Now, I’ll generate an image illustrating the difference between a food chain and a food web.
Here is the image illustrating the difference between a food chain and a food web. Let me know if you need any modifications or explanations!
