Question

energy in ecosystems
food web practice

1. list two food chains found in this food web.
2. if there was a sudden decrease in the population of sharks,

which organism(s) would most likely increase in population?

1. what is the primary producer in this food web?
2. how would the extinction of zooplankton impact this food

web?

1. which fish in this food web would be most impacted by the

extinction of coral? explain why.

Explanation:

1. A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next. In the web, we can pick sequences like Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Trigger Fish → Shark and Phytoplankton → Clam → Sea Star (or other valid ones from the web).
2. Sharks are predators. If their population decreases, their prey (Parrot Fish, Trigger Fish, Butterfly Fish) would likely increase as there's less predation pressure.
3. Primary producers make their own food (usually via photosynthesis). In the web, Phytoplankton fits this role.
4. Zooplankton eat Phytoplankton. If Zooplankton go extinct, Phytoplankton might over - reproduce (less consumption). Also, organisms that eat Zooplankton (like Trigger Fish) would lose a food source, potentially decreasing, and this would ripple through the web (e.g., Sharks that eat Trigger Fish might be affected).
5. Trigger Fish directly eat Coral. If Coral goes extinct, Trigger Fish lose their main food source immediately. Other fish might have alternative foods (e.g., Parrot Fish could still eat Sea Urchin which eats Phytoplankton; Butterfly Fish might have other options not as dependent on Coral as Trigger Fish).

Answer:

1. Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Trigger Fish → Shark; Phytoplankton → Clam → Sea Star (or other valid chains from the web).
2. Parrot Fish, Trigger Fish, Butterfly Fish.
3. Phytoplankton.
4. Phytoplankton might over - grow (less Zooplankton to eat them). Trigger Fish (and thus Sharks) would lose a food source (population decrease for Trigger Fish and potential Shark population effect).
5. Trigger Fish. Because Trigger Fish directly rely on Coral as a food source in the given food web.