Food Chains and Food Webs

Why do scientists study food chains?

• Scientists study food chains to see how energy flows through organisms•Where do we get energy?–Food (plants, animals)–Where do those organisms get

energy?

Carnivores

Herbivores

Omnivores

Producers• Organisms that make their own food• Bottom of the food chain

Consumers• Organisms that do NOT make their own

food but have to find it• Primary consumers: middle of the food

chain; get their energy from producers• Secondary consumers: top of the food

chain; get their energy from primary consumers

Decomposers• Breaks down the soft tissues of dead

plants and animals• Two types of decomposers–1. Bacteria–2. Fungi

Scavengers• Organisms that are too lazy to go

hunt for their food

Predators• Animals that hunt

Prey• Animals being hunted

Endangered • organisms that are rare and

may eventually disappear

Extinct • organisms that are gone

According to Terracycle, 100 species of animals and plants become extinct

every week!!!

How do humans affect food chains?

Links• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/

animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm

• http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-chains.htm

• http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/index.cfm

• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm