FOOD FOOD CHAINCHAIN

1

What is a Food Chain?

2

A Food Chain is a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from species that are called producers and ends at species that are called decomposers.

3

An Example of a Food Chain

4

Food ChainFood Chain

VSVS

5

Food Food WebWeb

Food Chain follows a single path as

animals eat each otherwhile

Food Web shows how plants & animals are

interconnected by different paths.

6

Animals and plants are linked by food chains…..Animals and plants are linked by food chains…..

Animals get energy and nutrients by eating other animals or plants.Animals get energy and nutrients by eating other animals or plants.

For example, caterpillars eats leaves; small birds eat caterpillars; owls For example, caterpillars eats leaves; small birds eat caterpillars; owls

eat small birds; eagles eat owls.eat small birds; eagles eat owls.

These links between animals and plants are called food chains.These links between animals and plants are called food chains.

Nearly all food chains start with a green plant.Nearly all food chains start with a green plant.

If one part of a food chain alters, the whole food chain is affected. For 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 example, if a disease suddenly wiped out caterpillars, it would affect

owls, eagles and many other animals.owls, eagles and many other animals.

7

Components of a Food Chain

8

Producers Are organisms that make their own food from

a primary source such as sunlight. They are often called autotrophs or primary producers. They are at the start of a food chain.

9

ProducerProducer

HerbivoresHerbivores or Primary

Consumers are animals that only eat plants.

10

CarnivoresCarnivores or Secondary Consumers

are animals that eat meat.

Carnivores will also eat animals that eat plants.

11

OmnivoresOmnivores will eat both

plants and animals.

People are omnivores.

12

Tertiary ConsumersEat Secondary Consumers

13

Top Predators

Animals that have little or no natural enemies.

14

Detrivores and Decomposers

When any organism dies, it is eventually eaten by detrivores like:

15

VultureWorms

Crab

Detrivores and Decomposers

When any organism dies, it is eventually eaten by detrivores like:

16

VultureWorms

Crab

Detrivores and Decomposers

Organism eaten by detrivores is broken down by decomposers like bacteria and fungi.

17

Note:

When one species goes extinct, it can affect an entire chain of other species and have unpredictable consequences.

18

19