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. 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

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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: –Bacteria –Fungi. Decomposer Video Clip

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

Sample food chains with energy roles labeled: Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug producer 1 consumer 2 consumer →bird → mushroom 3 consumer Decomposer Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture produce 1 consumer 2 consumer 3 con Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse → producer 1 consumer 2 consumer hawk 3 consumer Video Clip 2 Video Clip 2 /Prod/Cons VideoProd/Cons Video

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 producer 1 consumer 2 consumer herbivore Carnivore →bird → mushroom 3 consumer Decomposer Omnivore Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture produce 1 consumer 2 con 3 con herbivore carnivore carnivore

Food WebsA Food Webs consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. It better represents the transfer of energy than a food chain.

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 Pyramid Video ClipEnergy Pyramid Video Clip