Biology Regents Practice Exam

What is the best representation of the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem?

1. An evolutionary tree

2. A food chain

3. An electrophoresis gel

4. A food web

The correct answer is: A food web

The best representation of the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem is a food web. A food web illustrates the complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem. Unlike a food chain, which depicts a linear pathway of energy transfer, a food web shows how multiple food chains are interconnected, highlighting that many organisms consume and are consumed by multiple other species. This interconnectedness showcases how organisms depend on one another for energy and nutrients, reflecting the complexity and interrelatedness of ecosystem dynamics. In contrast, an evolutionary tree focuses on the relationships and common ancestors of species rather than their interactions within an ecosystem, while an electrophoresis gel is a laboratory technique used for separating biomolecules and does not pertain to ecological relationships.