Changes to Food Webs - Plants
Science: KS3, topic 1.3.3
Changes to Food Webs - Plants
A food chain is a model that shows how energy flows through an ecosystem. A food chain shows which organisms eat other organisms. A food web is a series of food chains that overlap.
Predator-prey relationships
- Predator and prey numbers will change over time.
- An increase in predators will lead to a decrease in prey organisms.
- Prey numbers will decrease because there are more predators to eat the prey.
- A decrease in predators will lead to an increase in prey organisms.
- Prey numbers will increase because there are fewer predators to eat the prey.
Plants competing for light
- Competition between plants can occur above and below the ground.
- Plants compete for light.
- Plants need light for photosynthesis.
- Plants grow tall and spread their leaves to maximise the amount of the light they receive.
Plants competing for water
- Plants compete for water.
- Plants need water for photosynthesis.
- Plants can spread their roots deeper to find water.
- Plants can spread along the surface of the soil to absorb the water from rainfall.
Nutrients and space
- Plants compete for nutrients.
- Plants absorb nutrients via their roots.
- Plants compete for space.
- Plants need space to grow.
Test yourself on Changes to Food Webs - Plants
What drives plants to spread their leaves?
Select the correct statement in each pair
In a food web, the fox population increases. What is most likely to happen to the rabbit population?