Let’s go through each question one by one, using the food web shown.
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1) Which of the following is an omnivore?
An omnivore eats both plants and animals.
Looking at the options:
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Bird: In the diagram, the bird eats caterpillars (animal) — but does it eat plants? The arrow from “Plants” goes to caterpillar, not directly to bird. So maybe not.
Wait — actually, in many real-life cases birds are omnivores, but we must go by the diagram only.
In this diagram:
- Bird → eats Caterpillar (so carnivore or insectivore)
- Snake → eats Bird, Rabbit, Caterpillar → carnivore
- Skunk → eats Squirrel and Seeds/Nuts → so it eats animal (squirrel) AND plant-based food (seeds/nuts) → that makes it an OMNIVORE!
- Squirrel → eats Seeds and Nuts → herbivore
✔ So the correct answer is:
c) Skunk
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2) How many apex predators are shown on this food web?
Apex predator = top of the food chain, no other animal eats them.
Look at who has NO arrows pointing TO them (meaning nothing eats them):
- Owl: Arrows point TO owl from Skunk, Snake, Bird → but NO arrow points FROM owl to anything else being eaten by someone else. Also, nothing eats the owl → so owl is apex.
- Snake: Eaten by Owl → NOT apex.
- Skunk: Eaten by Owl → NOT apex.
- Bird: Eaten by Snake and Owl → NOT apex.
- Others are lower.
Only the
Owl has no predator above it.
✔ Answer:
1
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3) List three herbivores shown on the food web.
Herbivores eat only plants.
From the diagram:
- Caterpillar → eats Plants
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- Rabbit → eats Plants
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- Squirrel → eats Seeds and Nuts (which come from plants)
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- Bird? Only eats caterpillar → not herbivore.
- Skunk? Eats squirrel and seeds → omnivore.
So three herbivores:
1) Caterpillar
2) Rabbit
3) Squirrel
✔ Answers:
1) Caterpillar
2) Rabbit
3) Squirrel
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4) What would happen to the snake population if the rabbit became extinct?
Snakes eat rabbits (arrow from Rabbit to Snake). If rabbits disappear, snakes lose one food source.
But snakes also eat birds and caterpillars → so they won’t starve completely, but their food supply decreases.
→ Snake population might decrease because less food available.
✔ Answer: The snake population would likely decrease because they would have less food to eat.
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5) Where does the owl get its energy from?
Energy flows from what you eat.
Owl eats: Skunk, Snake, Bird (arrows point from those to Owl).
So owl gets energy from eating skunks, snakes, and birds.
✔ Answer: The owl gets its energy from eating skunks, snakes, and birds.
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6) Which of the following is a food chain shown in this web?
Check each option against the arrows in the diagram.
a) Plants → Bird → Snake → Owl
→ Does Bird eat Plants? No direct arrow. Bird eats Caterpillar.
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b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
→ Plants → Rabbit
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→ Rabbit → Snake
✔
→ Snake → Owl
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This matches! ✔️
c) Plants → Caterpillar → Skunk → Owl
→ Caterpillar → Skunk? No arrow. Skunk eats Squirrel and Seeds.
✘
d) Plants → Caterpillar → Squirrel → Owl
→ Caterpillar → Squirrel? No arrow. Squirrel eats Seeds/Nuts.
✘
✔ Correct answer:
b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
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7) What would happen to the plant population if the caterpillar population decreased?
Caterpillars eat plants. If there are fewer caterpillars, they will eat fewer plants.
→ Plant population would increase (because less being eaten).
✔ Answer: The plant population would increase because fewer caterpillars would be eating them.
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8) List the carnivores shown in this food web.
Carnivores eat only meat/other animals.
Check each:
- Owl → eats Skunk, Snake, Bird → all animals → Carnivore
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- Snake → eats Bird, Rabbit, Caterpillar → all animals → Carnivore
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- Bird → eats Caterpillar → animal → Carnivore
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- Skunk → eats Squirrel (animal) AND Seeds/Nuts (plant) → Omnivore → NOT pure carnivore
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- Squirrel → eats plants → Herbivore
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- Rabbit → eats plants → Herbivore
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- Caterpillar → eats plants → Herbivore
✘
So carnivores: Owl, Snake, Bird
✔ Answer: Owl, Snake, Bird
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Final Answer:
1) c) Skunk
2) 1
3) 1) Caterpillar 2) Rabbit 3) Squirrel
4) The snake population would likely decrease because they would have less food to eat.
5) The owl gets its energy from eating skunks, snakes, and birds.
6) b) Plants → Rabbit → Snake → Owl
7) The plant population would increase because fewer caterpillars would be eating them.
8) Owl, Snake, Bird
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of food chain worksheet middle school.
