It all start with Plants! Producers & Consumers, It all start with Plants!

Types of consumers are There are Three types of Consumers Carnivores. Herbivores. Omnivores. Its all about what you eat! Vore = vorax = to swallow or to eat.

1-Herbivores: An animal that eats only plants & other producers 1-Herbivores: An animal that eats only plants & other producers.( first-level consumers).

Herbivores: ( herbi = plant or vegetation)

2-Carnivores: Is an animal that eats mainly other animals. It’s also called “ second-level” consumer.

2-Carnivores: carni = meat

3-Omnivores: eat both meat (animals) and plants.

3-Omnivores: omni = all

In an Ecosystem: When a grasshopper eats grass, then its eaten by a snake, then the snake is eaten by a large carnivore such as hawk ( 3rd -level consumer). Each time something eats something else, food energy is transferred from 1 organism to the next. We can arrange this story & energy transfer in what is called a food chain.

How they relate .

What is a food chain ?

A is the transfer of energy between organisms in an ecosystem. It shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some animals eat other animals. Who eats Who ( only one path).

What is in a “food chain” ? Producers. Consumers. Decomposers.

Decomposers: When animals & plants die, What happens to the food energy stored in their remains? The remains are broken down & food energy is used by decomposers. So, What is a decomposer?? De= to do the opposite or to “undo”. Compose= to put together.

Decomposer ?? Decomposer is a consumer that gets its food energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms ( plants & animals).

Decomposers Decomposers use some of the nutrients as food. The rest become mixed into the soil. Then plant roots can take up these nutrients. Examples: Earth Worms. Fungi. Single celled organisms ( protist or bacteria).

Decomposers: decomposers are recyclers.

How they relate?? Decomposers connect both ends of the food chain. .

Let’s Look at a Food chain

Food Webs A food web is a diagram that shows the relationship between different food chains in an ecosystem. Who eats who ?? ( many paths ).

Food Webs Because most animals eat more than 1 kind of food , a food web is a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships between organisms living in an ecosystem.

What are the differences between food webs and food chains?

A food web is actually several food chains joined together.

Food Webs A food web is also Who eats Who but showing many paths.