Examine the photo below of a very basic food web. In 2-3 sentences, describe what would happen to this ecosystem if the organisms indicated by the circle and arrow did not exist.

Question

Grading Considerations:

Your answer should include the name of the group of organisms circled and what their job/role is in a food web
Your answer should include an explanation of the effects it would have on the ecosystem if those organisms did not exist. In other words, why are they so important?
Your answer should be in 2-3 sentences

Answer 1

The organisms circled in the photo are primary producers, such as plants and algae, which convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. If these primary producers did not exist, the entire ecosystem would collapse as there would be no source of energy for other organisms to feed on. This would lead to the extinction of all higher trophic levels and disrupt the balance of the food web.