Animals that eat BOTH animals and plants are called omnivores. Food Chains A habitat may contain many different plants and animals which all need food for energy and growth. A food chain shows the eating patterns of animals and plants within a habitat. Some animals live on plants (herbivores) but others prey on other animals (carnivores). Animals that eat BOTH animals and plants are called omnivores.

Food chains always begin with a green plant (producer). A plant uses water, CO2 and sunlight to manufacture (make) the food that animals eat.

Plants are called producers because they produce food for themselves and the animals that eat them.

Animals are called consumers because they eat, or consume, plants or other animals.

The arrows on a food chain mean `is eaten by/provides energy for’ A leaf (a producer) is eaten by a caterpillar (consumer).

Animals that eat other animals are called predators. The animals that they eat are called prey.

The insect (prey) is eaten by the frog (predator).

What might the frog be eaten by?

A Beach Food Chain

A Pond Food Chain The plant is eaten by the slug. The slug is eaten by the frog. The frog is eaten by the heron.

Over to you! Draw out/label the food chains just shown. Using the available resources, compile 4 food chains of your own.

The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive. Each animal in a food chain eats another animal or a plant in order to gain energy. The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive.

Human Influence Sometimes, humans cause problems for the plants and animals in an ecosystem. Oil spills pollute the sea and beaches. Forests are cut down to make way for roads, and so that land is available for cattle to graze. These influences can affect food chains

Food Chain Changes. Think about the food chain in the woodland/meadow. What will happen to the elements of the food chain (foxes, rabbits, hawks, mice and grass) in the following circumstances? 1. If houses were built on half of the woodland/meadow the following would happen: 2. If the rabbits numbers were greatly reduced by a disease the following would happen:

Many herbivores are needed to support a few carnivores in a food chain .

The interdependence of the populations within a food chain helps to maintain the balance of plant and animal populations within a community. For example, when there are too many giraffes; there will be insufficient trees and shrubs for all of them to eat. Many giraffes will starve and die. Fewer giraffes means more time for the trees and shrubs to grow to maturity and multiply. Fewer giraffes also means less food is available for the lions to eat and some lions will starve to death. When there are fewer lions, the giraffe population will increase.