Mice eat corn, and hawks eat mice. What is the ultimate source of all the energy in this food chain?

• A. The soil
• B. The Sun
• C. The hawks
• D. The corn

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a food chain: A food chain represents the flow of energy through different organisms in an ecosystem, starting from producers and moving through consumers.
2. Identify the roles of organisms in the food chain: Corn is a producer (plants that make their own food through photosynthesis), mice are primary consumers (herbivores that eat plants), and hawks are secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores).
3. Recognize the process of photosynthesis: Corn, as a plant, uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process is the foundation of energy production in the food chain.
4. Trace the energy flow: The energy captured by corn from sunlight is transferred to mice when they eat the corn, and then to hawks when they eat the mice. This demonstrates how energy moves through the food chain.
5. Conclude the ultimate source of energy: Since the corn relies on sunlight for photosynthesis, the ultimate source of all energy in this food chain is the Sun.