# A food web in a grassland ecosystem contains the following organisms: grass, grasshoppers, frogs, snakes, and hawks. Describe how a sudden large decrease in the number of frogs would affect the populations of grasshoppers and snakes. Give reasons for your answer.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) — 19.2 Food chains and food webs · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The number of grasshoppers would increase
2. Because frogs are consumers of grasshoppers / frogs eat grasshoppers, so fewer frogs means less predation of grasshoppers
3. The number of snakes would decrease
4. Because frogs are a food source for snakes / snakes eat frogs, so fewer frogs means less food available for snakes

## Key terms

- [food web](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/food-web)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-food-web-in-a-grassland-b244ce2a) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.