Food Webs and Food Chains worksheet featuring a colorful food web diagram with questions about energy flow, omnivores, apex predators, herbivores, and carnivores.

Here's the complete solution to all 8 questions based on the food web shown:

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1) Which of the following is an omnivore?
✔ c) Skunk

Explanation: An omnivore eats both plants and animals. In this food web, the skunk eats seeds and nuts (plant material) AND squirrels (animals). The bird eats caterpillars (animal), snake eats rabbits/birds (animals), squirrel eats seeds/nuts (plants only — so it’s a herbivore). Only the skunk eats from both kingdoms.

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2) How many apex predators are shown on this food web?
✔ 1

Explanation: An apex predator is at the top of the food chain with no natural predators in this web. The owl preys on skunk, squirrel, and snake — and nothing eats the owl. So there is only one apex predator: the owl.

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3) List three herbivores shown on the food web.
✔ 1) Squirrel
✔ 2) Rabbit
✔ 3) Caterpillar

Explanation: Herbivores eat only plants.
- Squirrel → eats seeds and nuts (from plants)
- Rabbit → eats plants
- Caterpillar → eats plants
(Note: Skunk is NOT a herbivore — it also eats squirrels.)

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4) What would happen to the snake population if the rabbit became extinct?
✔ The snake population would likely decrease.

Explanation: Snakes eat rabbits (as shown by the arrow from rabbit to snake). If rabbits disappear, snakes lose one of their food sources. This could lead to starvation or increased competition for other prey (like birds or caterpillars), causing the snake population to decline.

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5) Where does the owl get its energy from?
✔ From eating skunks, squirrels, and snakes.

Explanation: Arrows point from skunk → owl, squirrel → owl, and snake → owl. That means the owl consumes these animals to obtain energy. These animals, in turn, got their energy from lower trophic levels (plants or other animals).

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6) Which of the following is a food chain shown in this web?
✔ b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl

Explanation: Let’s check each option:
a) Plants → Bird → Snake → Owl → ✘ Bird eats caterpillar, not plants directly.
b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl → ✔ Correct! All arrows exist.
c) Plants → Caterpillar → Skunk → Owl → ✘ Skunk eats squirrel and seeds/nuts — NOT caterpillars.
d) Plants → Caterpillar → Squirrel → Owl → ✘ Squirrel doesn’t eat caterpillars.

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7) What would happen to the plant population if the caterpillar population decreased?
✔ The plant population would likely increase.

Explanation: Caterpillars eat plants. If fewer caterpillars are around to eat them, more plants survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in the plant population.

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8. List the carnivores shown in this food web.
✔ Owl, Snake, Bird, Skunk

Explanation: Carnivores eat other animals.
- Owl → eats skunk, squirrel, snake (all animals)
- Snake → eats rabbit, bird, caterpillar (all animals)
- Bird → eats caterpillar (animal)
- Skunk → eats squirrel (animal) — even though it also eats plants, it still qualifies as a carnivore because it eats animals. (Technically, skunk is an omnivore, but since the question asks for carnivores *shown*, and it does consume animals, it’s often included. However, strictly speaking, “carnivore” means meat-eater only — so let’s clarify.)

⚠️ Important Note:
Strictly speaking, true carnivores (only meat-eaters) in this web are:
→ Owl (eats only animals)
→ Snake (eats only animals)
→ Bird (eats caterpillars — animals)

Skunk is an omnivore, not a pure carnivore.

So if the question expects strict carnivores, answer:
✔ Owl, Snake, Bird

But if it allows animals that eat meat (even if they also eat plants), then include skunk.

Given context of school-level biology, and since the question says “carnivores shown,” and skunk eats animals, it may be included. But to be scientifically precise:

👉 Best Answer: Owl, Snake, Bird

*(If your teacher accepts omnivores that eat meat, you can add skunk — but technically, it’s not a carnivore.)*

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

1) c) Skunk
2) 1
3) 1) Squirrel 2) Rabbit 3) Caterpillar
4) Snake population would decrease
5) From skunks, squirrels, and snakes
6) b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
7) Plant population would increase
8) Owl, Snake, Bird *(and optionally Skunk if including omnivores that eat meat)*

Let me know if you want this formatted as a worksheet! 🦉🌿