Food Chains Food Chain What do food chains show? What do the arrows represent? A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy. Food chains show the transfer of energy in an ecosystem The arrows represent the transfer of energy.

What do food chains start with? What type of organism is after the sun? Describe photosynthesis. Almost all Food Chains start with the sun After the sun is an organism that can do photosynthesis. Like plants and phytoplankton. Sunlight + Carbon Dioxide + Water = Energy –This process is called Photosynthesis

Sample food chains: Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird → mushroom Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse → hawk THE ARROWS SHOW THE DIRECTION THAT THE ENERGY MOVES.

Producers An organism that can make its own food. They use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to make energy, through a process called photosynthesis. Producers are the source of all food in an ecosystem. Without producers there is no food chain. Phytoplankton Flowers Tree

Decomposers Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment. Two major groups of decomposers are: –B–Bacteria –F–Fungi.

Consumers 3 types of Consumers An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. Ex: Deer, Humans, Snakes, Bat, Cat, Hippopotamus, Cricket, Rabbit Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivores Food Chain Game

3 types of consumers Carnivores Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Consumers that eat ONLY other consumers. ( Meat -Eaters) Ex: T-rex, Tigers, Lions, Ladybugs, Spiders.

Herbivores Herbivores are consumers that eat only producers. (plant eaters) Ex: Butterflies, deer, elephants, giraffes, mice.

Omnivores Consumers that eat BOTH consumers and producers. (both meat eaters and plant eaters) Ex. Humans, Bearded Dragons, Turtles, Bears.

Sample food chains with energy roles labeled: Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird → mushroom producer 1 st consumer 2 nd consumer 3 rd consumer Decomposer herbivore Carnivore Omnivore Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture producer 1 st consumer 2 nd con. 3 rd consumer herbivore carnivore scavenger

Food WebsA Food Webs consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. It better represents the transfer of energy than a food chain. In nature animals eat more than just one type of food

Energy PyramidAn Energy Pyramid shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web. The most energy is at the producer level. At each level there is less available energy. Energy is lost as heat at each level