What is Food Chain?
Food chain represents the direction of the flow of energy and nutrients
through an ecosystem. It consists of four main components producers,
primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers. Based on
the primary source of energy there are two types of food chain: Grazing
and the Detritus food chain. It makes us understand the interaction
among the species, the interdependence of organisms in nature, and how
energy is transferred from one level to the next, sustaining life within an
ecosystem.
Definition of Food Chain
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each organism
serves as a source of food for the organism at the next trophic level,
demonstrating the transfer of energy and nutrient in an ecosystem.
What is Food Chain?
A food chain represents the flow of energy and nutrients among different
organisms in an ecosystem. It tells us how energy and nutrients are
transferred from one trophic level to another and how the organisms
interact in an ecosystem. In a food chain, each organism represents a
particular trophic level according to its food behavior.
Producers are living organisms that produce their own food by
utilizing solar energy through the photosynthesis process. For
example, plants, green growth, etc.
Consumers are living organisms that cannot produce their own
food and obtain energy by consuming other organisms. For
example, lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, etc.
Decomposers are the organisms that breaks down dead organic
matter and recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem. They are
present at the last stage of the food chain, that breaks down waste
and remains from all other trophic levels. For example, bacteria and
fungi.
Food Chain Diagram
The diagram showing the labeled diagram of food chain is given below:
Food Web
A food web is a complex, interconnected network of multiple food chains
within an ecosystem, representing the various paths through which
energy and nutrients flow as organisms interact with one another. All the
organisms in the trophic level, including predators, prey, and scavengers,
interact within this food web, which influences the population dynamics.
Decomposers break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the
ecosystem. Each level in the food web depends on the lower level for
energy and nutrients. Change in one trophic level impacts the other tropic
levels or the whole food web. It shows the dependency of one trophic level
on one another and the importance of biodiversity.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) - Quick Notes
1. Definition: Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are a
type of bacteria that conduct photosynthesis, giving them a green-
blue color due to chlorophyll.
2. Characteristics:
o They are prokaryotic organisms, meaning they lack a nucleus.
o Often found in water environments like ponds, rivers, and
oceans, and sometimes on moist soil.
o Capable of photosynthesis, similar to plants, using sunlight to
produce energy.
3. Role in Ecosystem:
o Oxygen Production: Cyanobacteria were among the first
organisms to release oxygen into Earth's atmosphere.
o Nitrogen Fixation: Some species can fix atmospheric
nitrogen, enriching the soil and water with nutrients, beneficial
for plant growth.
4. Uses:
o Used as bio-fertilizers in agriculture due to their ability to fix
nitrogen.
o Some cyanobacteria are used in food supplements, such as
Spirulina, for their high protein content.
5. Harmful Effects:
o Under certain conditions, blue-green algae can multiply
rapidly, causing "algal blooms."
o These blooms can produce toxins harmful to aquatic life,
animals, and humans, potentially contaminating drinking
water sources.
1. What is an Atom?
o The smallest unit of matter that makes up everything around
us.
o It cannot be seen with the naked eye because it is extremely
tiny.
2. Structure of an Atom:
o Made up of three main particles:
Protons (positive charge)
Neutrons (no charge)
Electrons (negative charge)
o Protons and neutrons are found in the center of the atom,
called the nucleus.
o Electrons orbit around the nucleus in areas called shells.
3. Atomic Number:
o The number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
o Each element has a unique atomic number that defines it.
o Example: Hydrogen has 1 proton, so its atomic number is 1.
4. Mass Number:
o The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
o It tells us about the "mass" of the atom since electrons are too
light to contribute much weight.
o Example: If an atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, its mass
number is 12.
5. Discovery of Atoms:
o The concept of atoms was first proposed by Democritus, a
Greek philosopher, around 400 BCE.
o However, John Dalton, a scientist in the early 1800s, is
credited with developing the modern atomic theory.
o Dalton described atoms as small, indestructible particles that
combine to form everything.
Atoms are the building blocks of all matter, with atomic number and mass
number helping us understand each atom’s identity and weight.
