Suppose every water flea in the pond food web shown died out. How many food chains would remain? A food web drawn as labelled boxes on rows by feeding level, with arrows pointing from each organism to the one that eats it. Arrows: Algae to Water flea; Algae to Tadpole; Water flea to Small fish; Tadpole to Small fish; Tadpole to Water beetle; Small fish to Large fish; Water beetle to Large fish; Small fish to Heron; Large fish to Heron.

Suppose every water flea in the pond food web…

Suppose every water flea in the pond food web shown died out.

HardOriginal question

Suppose every water flea in the pond food web shown died out. How many food chains would remain?

2Correct answerYour answer3Correct answerYour answer4Correct answerYour answer5Correct answerYour answer

Show the answer and explanation

CorrectNot quiteAnswer B

Correct answer: B

The web has 5 chains: two pass through the water flea and three through the tadpole.
Algae → tadpole → small fish → large fish → heron; algae → tadpole → small fish → heron; algae → tadpole → water beetle → large fish → heron.
Removing the water flea breaks its two chains, leaving 3.

Ten questions from Ecosystems and Biodiversity, at your own pace.

Ten questions from Ecosystems and Biodiversity, at your own pace.