FOOD CHAINS Predator Sees movement By Jennifer Richardson

FOOD CHAINS Predator Sees movement By: Jennifer Richardson Chases prey Catches prey 1

Animals and plants are linked by food chains…. . q Animals get energy and nutrients by eating other animals or plants. q For example, caterpillars eats leaves; small birds eat caterpillars; owls eat small birds; eagles eat owls. q These links between animals and plants are called food chains. q Nearly all food chains start with a green plant. q If one part of a food chain alters, the whole food chain is affected. For example, if a disease suddenly wiped out caterpillars, it would affect owls, eagles and many other animals. 2

Example of a food chain Plant Caterpillar eats the plant Small Birds eat Caterpillars Owls eat Small Birds 3

Producers and Consumers q Plants are called producers because they make their own food. They are at the start of a food chain. q Animals are called consumers because they eat other plants and animals. Producer Consumer 4

Prey and predators q A predator is an animal that eats other animals. q The animals that predators eat are called prey. Prey Predator 5

Herbivores q. Herbivores are animals that only eat plants 6

Carnivores q Carnivores are animals that eat meat. q Carnivores will also eat animals that eat plants. 7

Omnivores q Omnivores will eat both plants and animals. q Some animals eat both plants and meat. q People are omnivores 8

Insects eat plants q Insects eat plants. q Fish, frogs, and birds eat the insects that eat the plants. q This begins the food chain. 9

Birds, Animals and People Eat Fish q Birds and other animals eat the fish. q The fish eat the plants and insects. q People eat fish too. 10

A Food Chain Plant Frog Insects Bear Fish People 11

Survival Map SPEED Color/ camouflage Speed of predator Prey SHAPE Survival Factors Pattern Proximity to hiding places Movement 12