Food Chains and Food Webs
A food chain shows what eats what! The reason the arrows are pointing the way they are is because they are showing the direction of energy flow. When an insect eats a plant, it gets its energy from the plant. Therefore the arrow shows where the energy is going. If the mouse then eats the insect, then the energy is now passed on to the mouse. This works on the theory that energy is neither created nor destroyed.
Once the owl dies it will either be eaten by scavengers or it will decompose. This then returns the energy or nutrients back to the earth, where the plants can take them up through their roots and use them again.
Food chains are a smaller part of food webs. Food chains often show one path within a food web, when there are many.
Once the owl dies it will either be eaten by scavengers or it will decompose. This then returns the energy or nutrients back to the earth, where the plants can take them up through their roots and use them again.
Food chains are a smaller part of food webs. Food chains often show one path within a food web, when there are many.
In the food web above there are producers and consumers. Producers are generally plants who make or 'produce' their own food. Consumers are generally animals who have to eat or 'consume' another plant or animal in order to obtain its energy. Can you name the producers in the food web above? Can you name 2 first order consumers and 2 second order consumers and 1 tertiary consumer?
In food webs there are also herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Herbivores are animals that eat plants only. Carnivores are animals that eat meat only and Omnivores are animals that eat plants and meat. Can you name one herbivore and one carnivore in the food web above?
In food webs there are also herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Herbivores are animals that eat plants only. Carnivores are animals that eat meat only and Omnivores are animals that eat plants and meat. Can you name one herbivore and one carnivore in the food web above?