IB Biology SL C4.2.4 Food Chains and Food Webs Questions

Build and interpret linear food chains and connected food webs, using named organisms and arrows to show feeding, energy and biomass transfer in IB Biology SL C4.2.4.

Exam points

Define a food chain as a linear sequence of feeding relationships and use a producer-first sequence with arrows in the direction of energy or biomass transfer.
Construct or interpret a food web by linking multiple food chains and identifying the feeding relationships among named organisms in a community.

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Study C4.2.4—Food chains and food webs conceptsOpen the corresponding Concept lesson for explanations, examples and exam connections.

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The sea snail Nucella ostrina and the sea star Pisaster ochraceus are predators of the mussel Mytilus trossulus. The mussels live on rocks at the edge of the sea and feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton. The zooplankton feed on the phytoplankton.

Nucella ostrina

Pisaster ochraceus

Mytilus trossulus

Groups of 50 mussels were transplanted to an experimental area and protected from predation until the start of the experiment. Researchers then investigated the effect of the predators on the population of the mussels over a period of 60 days.

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The sea star also eats the sea snails. Construct a food web to show the feeding relationships between these five organisms in the ecosystem.

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IB Biology SL C4.2.4 Food Chains and Food Webs Questions question 1