Question

which statement best contrasts food chains and food webs?
○ food webs show a single path of energy in an ecosystem, and food chains show all the overlapping food chains in that ecosystem.
○ food chains show a single path of energy in an ecosystem, and food webs show all the overlapping food chains in that ecosystem.
○ food webs show the path of energy in an ecosystem, and food chains show the path of nutrients in that ecosystem.
○ food chains show the path of energy in an ecosystem, and food webs show the path of nutrients in that ecosystem.

Explanation:

To solve this, we recall the definitions of food chains and food webs. A food chain is a linear sequence showing a single path of energy flow (e.g., grass → rabbit → fox). A food web is a complex network that consists of all the overlapping food chains in an ecosystem, showing multiple energy paths.

• Option 1 swaps the definitions (food webs don't show a single path, food chains do).
• Option 3 and 4 are incorrect because both food chains and food webs involve energy (and nutrient) flow; they don't differ by energy vs. nutrients.
• Option 2 correctly states that food chains show a single energy path and food webs show all overlapping food chains.

Answer:

B. Food chains show a single path of energy in an ecosystem, and food webs show all the overlapping food chains in that ecosystem.