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Index. Definition of food chain. Endangered species. Protection measures. Every organism needs to obtain energy in order to live. For example, plants get energy from the sun, some animals eat plants, and some animals eat other animals.
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Index • Definition of food chain. • Endangered species. • Protection measures.
Every organism needs to obtain energy in order to live. For example, plants get energy from the sun, some animals eat plants, and some animals eat other animals. • A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a biological community (an ecosystem) to obtain nutrition. A food chain starts with the primary energy source, usually the sun or boiling-hot deep sea vents. The next link in the chain is an organism that makes its own food from the primary energy source -- an example is photosynthetic plants that make their own food from sunlight (using a process called photosynthesis) and chemosynthetic bacteria that make their food energy from chemicals in hydrothermal vents. These are called autotrophs or primary producers. • Next come organisms that eat the autotrophs; these organisms are calledherbivores or primary consumers -- an example is a rabbit that eats grass.
The next link in the chain is animals that eat herbivores - these are called secondary consumers -- an example is a snake that eat rabbits. • In turn, these animals are eaten by larger predators -- an example is an owl that eats snakes. • The tertiary consumers are are eaten by quaternary consumers -- an example is a hawk that eats owls. Each food chain end with a top predator, and animal with no natural enemies (like an alligator, hawk, or polar bear). • The arrows in a food chain show the flow of energy, from the sun or hydrothermal vent to a top predator. As the energy flows from organism to organism, energy is lost at each step. A network of many food chains is called a food web. • Trophic Levels:The trophic level of an organism is the position it holds in a food chain.
Primary producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are called autotrophs. Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant-eaters). Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. They are carnivores (meat-eaters) and omnivores (animals that eat both animals and plants). Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers. Food chains "end" with top predators, animals that have little or no natural enemies. When any organism dies, it is eventually eaten by detrivores (like vultures, worms and crabs) and broken down by decomposers(mostly bacteria and fungi), and the exchange of energy continues.
What happens if a link is broken? • When a link in a chain breaks, the entire chain is broken. A food chain works the same way. When one animal changes, all the other animals are affected as well.
Why are bees disappearing? • Kids everywhere may revel in the fact that bees are no longer stinging them as frequently on playgrounds and in backyards, but the decline in honeybee populations in Spain and elsewhere signals a major environmental imbalance that could have far-reaching implications for ouragricultural food supply.
Possible causes: • Chemicals. • Genetically modified crops. • Radiation.
Endangered animals A species, either a plant or an animal, is considered endangered when all its living members are in danger of disappearing. This could be because of direct predation or as a consequence or the disappearance of a resource which their lives depend on, either by human action, changes in the environment, acts of nature, like natural disasters, or because of gradual changes in the climate.
Iberian lynx The Iberian lynx is a rabbit specialist with a low ability to adapt its diet. A sharp drop in the population of its main food source, a result of two diseases, contributed to the feline's decline. The lynx was also affected by the loss of scrubland, its main habitat, to human development, including changes in land use and the construction of roads and dams.Highways split up their habitat and they are threatened by car hits. In the past decade more than 10 animals have died under the wheels of a car. A very high number if we realize we’re talking almost 5% of the total population. Although it has been legally protected against hunting since the early 1970s, they are still the victims of guns, traps and snares, particularly those set for other animals.
Cantabrian brown bear The Spanish brown bear or Cantabrian brown bear is among the animals most at risk of extinction in Spain. In the Asturias region in Spain, there were only an estimated 80 brown bears left in 2011. Human pressure has caused a destruction of brown bear habitat and hunting has caused a reduction in their numbers. However, recent protection measures are starting to prove fruitful. Now in the North of Spain there are about 200 bears, triple than two decades ago.
The Drago is one of many endangered trees. It is considered as a symbol of the Canary Islands.
Spanish fir • Spanish firs have high scenic and scientific value. Despite the protection afforded there are still many threats on them. Arson, urbanization, erosion, lack of regeneration due to overgrazing, excessive uncontrolled visitors, etc. The greatest threat in the Iberian Peninsula is fire. Pests and diseases can also affect these trees.
What must we do? • In Spain there are many animals that are endangered and we must do everything possible to sow the seeds of their future, through legislation, recovery programs and other measures. • Why must we face all these measures? Simply because it’s our part, as we have altered their habitat, destroying, polluting, making it fields, recreational areas and how are you, a hundred thousand things, we must hold what we are truly guilty. This responsibility calls for thinking that about 40% of Spain vertebrates are endangered and 7% are close to extinction.
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND • World Wildlife Fund has been working for the conservation of the Iberian lynx for over 10 years, fighting for proper protection and conservation of vital habitat. Specificactionincludes: • Support for the captive breeding programme. • Sponsorship of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE), leading to the development of an action plan for the Iberian lynx. • Lobbying for all lynx habitat to be covered by the EU's Natura 2000 Programme. • Protecting Spain's CotoDoñana Wetlands.
The end • Thanks for your attention.
