Biology 0610 · IGCSE · Food chains and food webs

Food chains and food webs — practice question

Ecologists surveyed a patch of woodland and estimated the biomass at each trophic level for one food chain in that woodland. Some students wished to use these data to sketch a pyramid of biomass for the food chain. Table 3.1 displays the students’ table. The students also added a column so that they could work out the width of the bars they would need to draw.
(a(i))[1]

Complete Table 3.1 by finding the missing value and placing it in the table.

(a(ii))[3]

Using the information in Table 3.1, draw a pyramid of biomass. Add the trophic level label to each bar.

(b)[1]

A type of organism obtains energy from waste organic material from all trophic levels. State the name of this type of organism.

(c(i))[3]

Outline how organisms in the first trophic level of the woodland food chain produce biomass using energy from the Sun.

(c(ii))[3]

Explain why the fourth trophic level has the least biomass in this food chain.

(d)[3]

The woodland is a conservation area. Outline the possible benefits of conserving this particular area of woodland.

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