Ecosystems and Food Chains

1. Ecosystems and Food Chains An ecosystem is all the living and nonliving things in an area, in relation to their environment.

2. Kinds of Animals • A herbivore is an animal that eats only plants. • An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and animals. • A carnivore is an animal that can eat the herbivore or the omnivore. • The predator is the animal that hunts another one for food. • The prey is the animal that is hunted

3. Food Chains • Where does energy come from? Energy comes from the sun. • The energy in food is passed from one organism (plant or animal) to another. • We can see that in a food chain. • Then, what is a food chain? A food chain is the path energy takes from producers to consumers to decomposers.

4. Food ChainsFood Chains follow just one path of energy as animals find food. EXAMPLE: • The SUN provides food for GRASS • The GRASS is eaten by a GRASSHOPPER • The GRASSHOPPER is eaten by a FROG • The FROG is eaten by a SNAKE • The SNAKE is eaten by a HAWK.

5. This Is How A Food Chain Works • The Sun passes energy to plants. • Plants are producers. They can make their own food. • Carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores are consumers. All three got their energy by consuming other organisms. • It all ends with decomposers such as worms, bacteria, and fungi. • Decomposers break down dead organisms into substances that can be used by producers. • The cycle starts all over. Decomposers

6. Sample Food Chain

7. Food Webs FOOD WEBS show how plants and animals are connected in many ways to help them all survive.

8. Review • Can anyone tell me what a predator is? • What is the hunted called? • What is the original source of energy in a food chain? • What is a producer? • What is a consumer? • What is the relationship between plants and animals?