1. KEY CONCEPT Food chains and food webs model the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

2. A food chain is a model that shows a sequence of feeding relationships.
A food chain follows the connection between one producer and a single chain of consumers within an ecosystem.
DESERT COTTONTAIL
GRAMA GRASS
HARRIS’S HAWK

3. A food web emphasizes complicated feeding relationships and energy flow in an ecosystem.

4. Consumers are not all alike.
Herbivores eat only plants. Ex: grasshopper
Carnivores eat only animals. Ex: Lion
Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Ex: Bears
Detritivores eat dead organic matter. Ex: Worms, slugs
Decomposers are detritivores that break down organic or dead matter into simpler compounds. Ex: bacteria, Fungi
decomposer
carnivore

5. Specialists are consumers that primarily eat one specific organism (they only eat one thing) Ex: Bamboo is 99% of a panda’s diet
Generalists are consumers that have a varying diet (they eat a lot of different things) Ex: Gray wolf eats elk, moose, deer, and mice

6. Trophic levels are the nourishment levels in a food chain.

7. Carnivores that eat carnivores
Ex: Hawk eating rabbit
ENERGY
Carnivores that eat herbivores
Ex: Rabbit eating grasshopper
Herbivores that eat producers
Ex: grasshopper eating grass

8. Omnivores, such as humans that eat both plants and animals, may be listed at different trophic levels in different food chains.
If you are eating a salad you are….?
a primary consumer (omnivore eating a producer)
If you are eating a hamburger you are….?
a secondary consumer (omnivore eating a herbivore)
If you are eating shark soup, you are….?
a tertiary consumer (omnivore eating a carnivore)