Food Chain And Food Web Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's go through each question based on the food web provided in your image. Since I can't see the image directly, I will interpret it from the typical structure of food webs and the labels you've given (plants, caterpillar, rabbit, squirrel, bird, snake, skunk, owl). Based on common ecological relationships and the arrows shown:

---

1) Which of the following is an omnivore?

a) Bird
b) Snake
c) Skunk
d) Squirrel

✔ Answer: c) Skunk

Explanation:
An omnivore eats both plants and animals. In this food web:
- The skunk eats seeds and nuts (plant matter) and also appears to eat insects or small animals, making it omnivorous.
- Birds may be omnivores too, but here they are shown eating caterpillars (insects), so likely insectivores.
- Snake is a carnivore (eats birds, rabbits).
- Squirrel eats seeds and nuts — herbivore.

So, skunk is most clearly omnivorous.

---

2) How many apex predators are shown on this food web?

✔ Answer: 1 (the Owl)

Explanation:
Apex predators are at the top of the food chain and have no natural predators.
- The owl eats birds, snakes, squirrels, and possibly other animals — and nothing above it feeds on it.
- The snake is eaten by the owl → not apex.
- No other animal has anything eating it except the owl.

So, only one apex predator: the Owl.

---

3) List three herbivores shown on this food web.

✔ Answers:
1) Rabbit
2) Caterpillar
3) Squirrel

Explanation:
Herbivores eat only plants.
- Rabbit → eats plants
- Caterpillar → eats leaves (plants)
- Squirrel → eats seeds and nuts (plant parts)

Note: Skunk might be omnivorous, so not purely herbivorous.

---

4) What would happen to the snake population if the rabbit became extinct?

✔ Answer: The snake population would likely decrease.

Explanation:
Snakes eat rabbits (as shown by the arrow from rabbit to snake). If rabbits go extinct:
- Snakes lose one of their food sources.
- This could lead to starvation, lower reproduction, and a decline in snake numbers.
- Other prey (like birds or caterpillars?) might not fully compensate.

So, snake population would decrease due to loss of food.

---

5) Where does the owl get its energy from?

✔ Answer: The owl gets its energy from birds, snakes, squirrels, and possibly other small animals.

Explanation:
Energy flows from lower trophic levels to higher ones. The owl is a top predator, so it gets energy by consuming:
- Birds
- Snakes
- Squirrels
- Possibly skunks or others

These animals get their energy from plants or other animals, but ultimately, all energy comes from the sun via photosynthesis in plants.

So, the direct source of the owl’s energy is its prey (birds, snakes, etc.), and the ultimate source is the sun.

But since the question asks "where does the owl get its energy from?", the best answer is:
> From the animals it eats: birds, snakes, squirrels, and possibly skunks.

---

6) Which of the following is a food chain shown in this web?

a) Plants → Bird → Snake → Owl
b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
c) Plants → Caterpillar → Skunk → Owl
d) Plants → Caterpillar → Squirrel → Owl

✔ Answer: b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl

Explanation:
Let’s check each:

a) Plants → Bird → Snake → Owl
→ But birds don’t eat plants directly; they eat caterpillars. So not valid.

b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
→ Rabbit eats plants ✔
→ Snake eats rabbit ✔
→ Owl eats snake ✔
→ This chain is supported by arrows. Correct.

c) Plants → Caterpillar → Skunk → Owl
→ Caterpillar eats plants ✔
→ Skunk eats caterpillar? Maybe, but not clearly shown. Skunk eats seeds/nuts and possibly insects, but no direct arrow from caterpillar to skunk. So uncertain.

d) Plants → Caterpillar → Squirrel → Owl
→ Squirrel doesn’t eat caterpillars — it eats seeds and nuts. Arrow missing. ✘

So, only b is a valid food chain.

---

7) What would happen to the plant population if the caterpillar population decreased?

✔ Answer: The plant population would likely increase.

Explanation:
Caterpillars eat plants (they are herbivores). If their population decreases:
- Fewer plants are eaten.
- Less predation on plants.
- So, more plants survive and grow → plant population increases.

This is a classic example of trophic cascade.

---

8) List the carnivores shown in this food web.

✔ Answer:
- Owl
- Snake
- Bird (if it eats caterpillars, which are animals)
- Skunk (if it eats insects or small animals)

But let’s define carnivores as animals that eat other animals.

From the diagram:
- Owl → eats birds, snakes, squirrels → carnivore ✔
- Snake → eats birds, rabbits → carnivore ✔
- Bird → eats caterpillar → carnivore ✔
- Skunk → eats insects, maybe small animals → likely omnivore, not pure carnivore
- Squirrel → eats seeds → herbivore
- Rabbit → eats plants → herbivore
- Caterpillar → herbivore

So, carnivores:
1) Owl
2) Snake
3) Bird

✔ Final Answer: Owl, Snake, Bird

*(Note: If skunk eats animals, it could be included, but it’s more accurately omnivore.)*

---

✔ Final Answers Summary:

1) c) Skunk
2) 1 apex predator (Owl)
3) Rabbit, Caterpillar, Squirrel
4) Snake population would decrease
5) From birds, snakes, squirrels, and possibly skunks
6) b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
7) Plant population would increase
8) Owl, Snake, Bird

Let me know if you'd like a visual explanation or diagram!