Feeding the World

• What do scientists call organisms that make their own food?

  Scientists call these organisms producers.
• What are herbivores classified as in terms of trophic levels?

  Herbivores are classified as primary consumers.
• What is the role of carnivores in a food chain?

  Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers.
• What is a tertiary consumer?

  A tertiary consumer is a carnivore that eats other carnivores.
• What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?

  Decomposers break down dead plant or animal matter.
• What trophic level do producers occupy?

  Producers occupy trophic level one.
• What is the significance of food chains in ecosystems?

  • Show feeding relationships
  • Start with producers (plants or algae)
  • Illustrate energy flow through trophic levels
• What trophic level do primary consumers occupy?

  Primary consumers occupy trophic level two.
• What trophic level do secondary consumers occupy?

  Secondary consumers occupy trophic level three.
• What are producers in a food chain?

  Producers are plants or algae that make their own food by photosynthesis.
• What trophic level do tertiary consumers occupy?

  Tertiary consumers occupy trophic level four.
• What are herbivores classified as in a food chain?

  Herbivores are classified as primary consumers.
• What is a predator?

  A predator is a consumer that kills and eats other animals.
• What do we call carnivores that eat herbivores?

  Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers.
• What defines apex predators?

  Apex predators are carnivores with no predators themselves.
• What is a tertiary consumer?

  A tertiary consumer is a carnivore that eats other carnivores.
• What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

  Decomposers break down dead plants and animals as well as waste products.
• What are trophic levels?

  Trophic levels are positions on a food chain that indicate feeding relationships.
• What is the trophic level of producers?

  The trophic level of producers is level one.
• How do decomposers return nutrients to the soil?

  Decomposers break down dead remains and waste products, returning mineral ions to the soil.
• What is the trophic level of primary consumers?

  The trophic level of primary consumers is level two.
• What process do decomposers use to break down materials?

  Decomposers secrete enzymes into the environment to digest dead materials.
• What happens to small soluble food molecules after decomposition?

  Small soluble food molecules diffuse back into the decomposer.
• What is the trophic level of secondary consumers?

  The trophic level of secondary consumers is level three.
• What is the trophic level of tertiary consumers?

  The trophic level of tertiary consumers is level four.
• What is the current population of humans on Earth?

  Approximately 7.5 billion people
• What are the different trophic levels in a food chain?

  • Trophic Level 1: Producers
  • Trophic Level 2: Primary Consumers (herbivores)
  • Trophic Level 3: Secondary Consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores)
  • Trophic Level 4: Tertiary Consumers (carnivores that eat other carnivores)
• What defines a predator in an ecosystem?

  A predator is a consumer that kills and eats other animals.
• What does food security mean?

  Having enough food to feed a population
• What is the significance of apex predators in an ecosystem?

  • Apex predators are at the top of the food chain.
  • They help regulate the populations of other species.
  • They have no natural predators.
• What are apex predators?

  Apex predators are carnivores with no predators themselves.
• Why is food security becoming increasingly important?

  As more people live in cities and fewer grow their own food
• What is the process of decomposition and its importance in ecosystems?

  • Decomposition involves breaking down dead organic matter.
  • Decomposers return nutrients to the soil.
  • It supports plant growth and nutrient cycling.
• What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

  • Break down dead plants and animals
  • Decompose waste products like feces
  • Return mineral ions back to the soil
• What are the six biological threats to food security?

  1. Increasing birth rates
  2. Changing food tastes in developed countries
  3. New pests and pathogens
  4. Environmental change
  5. Resource demands of modern farming
  6. Conflicts and wars
• How do decomposers break down materials?

  Decomposers secrete enzymes into the environment to digest dead materials.
• How does an increasing birth rate affect food security?

  It requires an increase in the amount of food available to feed the growing population
• What happens to small soluble food molecules after decomposition?

  They diffuse back into the decomposer.
• Where can you find questions on trophic levels?

  You can find questions on trophic levels in the innovation workbook.
• Why do developed countries like the UK need to import food?

  Because many foods cannot be grown in the UK due to changing tastes