The diagram below shows a food chain. Use the model to explain how these four organisms received the food matter they need to create the biomolecules for food and growth. Explain why the tree is at the beginning of the model and the bird is at the end using the concepts you’ve learned in this unit.

Question

tree ,green fly, ladybird, bird

Answer 1

In the food chain represented by the diagram with the tree, green fly, ladybird, and bird, the flow of food matter illustrates the transfer of energy and nutrients through different trophic levels. Here’s an explanation of how each organism receives the food matter necessary for their own growth and development, as well as the positioning of the tree and bird within the model.

1. Tree (Producer): The tree is at the beginning of the food chain because it is a primary producer. It converts solar energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis, using sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose and oxygen. The glucose serves as a source of energy and carbon skeletons necessary for forming various biomolecules (like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) that serve as food for other organisms in the chain.

2. Green Fly (Primary Consumer): The green fly feeds on the leaves of the tree. As a herbivore, it derives its energy and nutrients directly from the tree, consuming plant material and breaking it down into simpler forms. The green fly metabolizes the carbohydrates, proteins, and other organic compounds from the tree to build its own tissues and sustain its life processes. This represents the second trophic level in the food chain.

3. Ladybird (Secondary Consumer): The ladybird preys on the green fly, positioning it as a secondary consumer. When the ladybird consumes the green fly, it obtains the energy and nutrients that the green fly has assimilated from the tree. Through digestion, the ladybird is able to extract energy from the organic matter of the green fly, allowing it to create its own biomolecules for growth and reproduction. This adds another level of energy transfer in the food chain.

4. Bird (Tertiary Consumer): The bird is at the end of the food chain as a tertiary consumer. It feeds on the ladybird, gaining energy and nutrients obtained from the ladybird’s diet, which originally came from the green fly and, ultimately, from the tree. The bird utilizes these nutrients to create its own tissues and energy stores, completing the energy transfer process through the food chain.

In summary, the tree is at the beginning of the model because it is the source of energy as a producer, capturing solar energy to create food through photosynthesis. The bird is at the end of the chain as it is the top consumer that relies on the energy transferred through the previous levels of the food chain, demonstrating the flow of energy and matter through an ecosystem. Each organism plays a crucial role in the cycling of energy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life forms in an ecosystem.