Whos Who in a Food Chain Food Chain

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Who’s Who in a Food Chain? Food Chain

Who’s Who in a Food Chain? Food Chain

 • A food chain tells us what is eaten by what in an

• A food chain tells us what is eaten by what in an ecosystem.

What is an ecosystem? n n n An ecosystem is all the animals and

What is an ecosystem? n n n An ecosystem is all the animals and the plants in a habitat, together with their environment. An ecosystem provides everything that the animals and plants that live there need. A rock pool is an ecosystem, and so is a forest or a lake.

What does this food chain show? l The plant is eaten by the slug.

What does this food chain show? l The plant is eaten by the slug. l The slug is eaten by the frog. l The frog is eaten by the heron.

 • ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY FROM FOOD. • Green plants are the

• ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY FROM FOOD. • Green plants are the only living things that can make their own food. • They are called producers. • A food chain always begins with a producer. Producers

Consumer s • Animals are consumers because they eat plants or other animals to

Consumer s • Animals are consumers because they eat plants or other animals to get their energy. • The first consumer in a food chain is an herbivore (an animal that eats only plants).

 • The secondary consumer is a carnivore (an animal that eats only other

• The secondary consumer is a carnivore (an animal that eats only other animals). • A carnivore may be eaten by a larger carnivore called a third/ tertiary consumer. Consumers

Consumers • A food chain sometimes includes a consumer that is an omnivore (an

Consumers • A food chain sometimes includes a consumer that is an omnivore (an animal that eats both plants and animals).

Decomposers • Decomposers are consumers that break down dead plants and animals. • They

Decomposers • Decomposers are consumers that break down dead plants and animals. • They return materials stored Then green plants in dead plants use the materials and animals to to make food. the soil, water, and air.

This is a beach food chain Can you describe what is happening?

This is a beach food chain Can you describe what is happening?

Can you show a different food chain?

Can you show a different food chain?

 • What did each food chain begin with?

• What did each food chain begin with?

 • Green Plants you say? Yes! • Almost every food chain starts with

• Green Plants you say? Yes! • Almost every food chain starts with a green plant. IT has to have chlorophyl to get energy from the sun. And where did this green plant gets it’s energy from? The Sun

Food Web: Shows more than one direction of flow of energy.

Food Web: Shows more than one direction of flow of energy.

Energy flow § Each animal in the food chain eats another animal or a

Energy flow § Each animal in the food chain eats another animal or a plant in order to gain energy. § The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive.

At each level only 10% of the original energy is transferred to the consumer.

At each level only 10% of the original energy is transferred to the consumer. Where did the other 90% of energy go? It became heat and mechanical energy!

Example of Energy Transfer in Joules. 10, 000 algae • Producer to primary consumer:

Example of Energy Transfer in Joules. 10, 000 algae • Producer to primary consumer: 16% transferred • Primary to Secondary Consumer: 8% transferred • Secondary to Tertiary Consumer: 10% transferred

What people do • Sometimes, humans cause problems for the plants and animals in

What people do • Sometimes, humans cause problems for the plants and animals in an ecosystem. • Oil spills pollute the sea and beaches. • Forests are cut down to make way for roads, and so that land is available for cattle to graze. What affect does this have on a food chain? Destroys plants and animals in the Food web so populations can’t come back

Match the words and phrases. A food chain shows producers Most food chains what

Match the words and phrases. A food chain shows producers Most food chains what is eaten by what start with Plants are predators Animals are prey Animals that hunt and eat others are called Animals that are caught and eaten are called consume rs a green plant