Why are there more herbivores than carnivores?

Why do food chains only have no more than four or five links?

because the animals at the end of the chain won't get enough food

What happens to the large amount of energy lost at each link?

causes the amount of energy that is transferred to lessen

What does the carnivore need to do to get enough energy to grow?

eat more herbivores

What is passed from one link to another in a food chain?

energy

What happens as you go further along the food chain?

fewer consumers

What happens when a herbivore is eaten by a carnivore?

it passes only a small amount of total energy to the carnivore

What does the interdependence of populations within a food chain do?

they maintain balance of plant and animal populations within a community

What happens when a herbivore eats only a fraction of the energy?

It becomes new body mass

What happens to the rest of the energy that a herbivore does not eat?

It is lost as waste or used up to carry out its life processes