Why is a food web often a better description than a food chain of the way in which energy (food) is passed through an ecosystem?

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We can represent which organisms feed on which by means of a food chain that links particular organisms in an ecosystem. Because one organism may feed on several other types or may be eaten by several different types of organisms, food chains are usually interconnected into food webs. Despite the potential complexity of these webs, the overall structure is very simple: Each web consists of a series of feeding levels called trophic levels. For example, the following trophic levels range from the bottom up: producers > primary consumers > secondary consumers > higher-order consumers. There are normally no more than four trophic levels in any system.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Which of the following terms refers to the leading edge of a thunderstorm's cold downdraft?

A. downburst B. gust front C. squall line D. dryline

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The present-day Pacific Ocean originally was the Panthalassa Ocean. Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following is NOT true in California's drought crisis?

A) Water resource locations do not match water demand locations. B) Eighty percent of the water distributed in California goes to cities. C) California produces one-third of U.S. vegetables and two-thirds of fruits and nuts. D) The average American consumes 40 gallons of water per day. E) California's water sources are both surface and groundwater.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Standard sea level pressure is equal to ____

a. 76 millibars b. 1013.2 millibars c. 108 bars d. 15.3 kilobars e. 7.6 megabars

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences