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

Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten and the direction that energy is travelling. The fly is eaten by the thrush.

Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten and the direction that energy is travelling. The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit.

The lettuce is eaten by the slug, the slug is eaten by the bird.

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Producers An organism that can make its own food, 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

bacteria fungus Donut Decomposition Rabbit decomposition time-lapse

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

A Basic Food Chain Plants absorb light from the sun, which is turned into energy to grow. We call these producers. The vegetarian animals eat the plants, they are called primary consumers. Secondary consumers prey on primary consumers.

Sun Producer Primary Secondary Tertiary Consumer Consumer Consumer

Pair Share Partner A: Look to your partner and tell them the 3 types of energy levels? Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a producer and give an example. Partner A: Look at your partner and describe a consumer and give an example. Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a decomposer and give an example.

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, rabbit.

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

A pig eats fruit, eggs, corn, and earthworms. Omnivore

: A frog eats insects, earthworms, and spiders. Carnivore/ Insectivore

eats grass, leaves, twigs, and shrub Herbivore

A raccoon eats almost anything including berries, acorns, baby mice, baby birds & eggs, frogs, fish, and even some snakes. Omnivore

Spiders eat insects. Carnivore/ Insectivore

A giraffe lives in Africa and eats leaves from trees. A giraffe may eat 75 pounds of food each day. Herbivore

A wolf eats deer, dogs, fish, mice, moose, birds, and other herbivores. Carnivore

Rabbits eat grasses, weeds, leaves, shoots, twigs, and bark. Herbivore

Lions eat other animals such as gazelles, antelopes, and zebras. Carnivore

Sheep eat grass and hay. Herbivore

Eagles eat fish, mammals, birds, and snakes. They love fish! Carnivore

Eats grass and hay Herbivore

Eats corn, twigs, shoots, acorns, fruit, berries, green plants Herbivore

A grizzly bear usually eat things such as grasses, roots, berries, insects, fish, and small and large mammals. Omnivore

Humans Omnivore

Eat 150 pounds of plants each day Herbivore

Scavenger Scavengers are animals that eat dead animals Scavengers open up animal bodies so they can eat them.

Pair Share Partner A: Look to your partner and tell them the 3 types of Consumers? Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a herbivore and give an example. Partner A: Look at your partner and describe a omnivore and give an example. Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a carnivore and give an example.

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

Pair Share Partner A tell your partner what a food web is. Partner B explain the difference between a food web and 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

An energy pyramid shows the distribution of energy. tertiary consumers secondary consumers primary consumers producers ,000 5,000,000 producers Herbivores/ Omnivores (Primary Consumers) Producers Most energy is lost as you go up the pyramid. Carnivores/ Omnivores (Secondary Consumers) Carnivores/ Omnivores (Tertiary Consumers)

3 rd level consumers mostly carnivores & some omnivores 2 nd level consumer carnivores & omnivores 1 st level consumer herbivores Producers: green plants make their own energy from sunlight 10,000 Kcal 1000 Kcal 100 Kcal 10 Kcal 1 Kcal An energy pyramid from the Andrews

Pair Share Discuss with your partner what a energy pyramid is. Together make a new energy pyramid and write it on your notes.