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Dec 13, 2025

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3 pages

Understanding Food Webs, Energy Pyramids, and Biomass Flow

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Bee Hyder @beehyder_lanm

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. In this topic,... Show more

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Food Webs & Key Ecological Terms

Ever wonder who eats whom in nature? Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores, while those eating only meat are carnivores. Omnivores enjoy both plant and animal foods (like us humans!).

These feeding relationships help scientists categorize organisms by how they get energy. Heterotrophs (also called consumers) need to eat other organisms for food. Meanwhile, autotrophs (producers) like plants can make their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

At the very top of food chains sit apex predators like lions or wolves - animals that have no natural predators of their own. They play a crucial role in keeping ecosystems balanced.

💡 Biomass Matters The total amount of living tissue in each feeding level (trophic level) is called biomass. For any ecosystem to survive long-term, producers must have the greatest biomass of all levels!

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Food Chains vs. Food Webs

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics tells us something important about energy it can change form, but it can't be created or destroyed. This fundamental principle explains how energy moves through ecosystems.

Food chains show a single path of who eats whom. They're simple but less stable - if one species disappears, the whole chain can collapse! In a food chain, each organism occupies just one position or trophic level.

Food webs are more like nature's reality. They show multiple interconnected food chains, creating a complex network of feeding relationships. This complexity makes ecosystems more stable - if one food source disappears, species can adapt by eating something else.

🔍 Real-World Application Think about your own diet - you're probably part of many food chains at once! This is why food webs better represent how energy actually flows through ecosystems.

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Energy Pyramids & The 90/10 Rule

Energy pyramids show how energy flows through an ecosystem's trophic levels. The pyramid shape isn't an accident - it represents a crucial ecological principle about energy transfer.

Starting at the base, you find primary producers (plants and other autotrophs) that capture energy from the sun. As you move up through consumers, something important happens only about 10% of energy transfers to the next level, while 90% is lost as heat or used for the organism's life processes.

This 90/10 rule explains why top predators are rare in nature. By the time energy reaches the fourth or fifth trophic level, very little of the original energy remains! That's why there are millions of plants, thousands of herbivores, hundreds of small carnivores, but only a few top predators.

🌟 Study Tip When drawing energy pyramids, remember that the width represents the amount of energy available at each level, not necessarily the physical size of the organisms!

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

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Where can I download the Knowunity app?

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

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I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

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Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

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This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

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iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

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Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

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Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

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Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

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Biology

61

Dec 13, 2025

3 pages

Understanding Food Webs, Energy Pyramids, and Biomass Flow

user profile picture

Bee Hyder

@beehyder_lanm

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. In this topic, we'll explore food webs, energy pyramids, and how energy flows through ecosystems - concepts that explain how every living thing is connected... Show more

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Food Webs & Key Ecological Terms

Ever wonder who eats whom in nature? Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores, while those eating only meat are carnivores. Omnivores enjoy both plant and animal foods (like us humans!).

These feeding relationships help scientists categorize organisms by how they get energy. Heterotrophs (also called consumers) need to eat other organisms for food. Meanwhile, autotrophs (producers) like plants can make their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

At the very top of food chains sit apex predators like lions or wolves - animals that have no natural predators of their own. They play a crucial role in keeping ecosystems balanced.

💡 Biomass Matters: The total amount of living tissue in each feeding level (trophic level) is called biomass. For any ecosystem to survive long-term, producers must have the greatest biomass of all levels!

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Food Chains vs. Food Webs

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics tells us something important about energy: it can change form, but it can't be created or destroyed. This fundamental principle explains how energy moves through ecosystems.

Food chains show a single path of who eats whom. They're simple but less stable - if one species disappears, the whole chain can collapse! In a food chain, each organism occupies just one position or trophic level.

Food webs are more like nature's reality. They show multiple interconnected food chains, creating a complex network of feeding relationships. This complexity makes ecosystems more stable - if one food source disappears, species can adapt by eating something else.

🔍 Real-World Application: Think about your own diet - you're probably part of many food chains at once! This is why food webs better represent how energy actually flows through ecosystems.

BIOH 10.1.006
Food Webe & Energy Pyramids
VOCABULARY
Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
Omnivores: animals that eat both plant and meat

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Energy Pyramids & The 90/10 Rule

Energy pyramids show how energy flows through an ecosystem's trophic levels. The pyramid shape isn't an accident - it represents a crucial ecological principle about energy transfer.

Starting at the base, you find primary producers (plants and other autotrophs) that capture energy from the sun. As you move up through consumers, something important happens: only about 10% of energy transfers to the next level, while 90% is lost as heat or used for the organism's life processes.

This 90/10 rule explains why top predators are rare in nature. By the time energy reaches the fourth or fifth trophic level, very little of the original energy remains! That's why there are millions of plants, thousands of herbivores, hundreds of small carnivores, but only a few top predators.

🌟 Study Tip: When drawing energy pyramids, remember that the width represents the amount of energy available at each level, not necessarily the physical size of the organisms!

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

3

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

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Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user