Food Chains

•A food chain tells us what is eaten by what in an ecosystem.

What is an ecosystem?

• An ecosystem is all the animals and the plants in a habitat, together with their environment.

• An ecosystem provides everything that the animals and plants that live there need.

• A rock pool is an ecosystem, and so is a forest or a lake.

What is happening in this food chain?

•The insect is eaten by the frog.

•What is eaten by the insect?

•Many insects feed on nectar which they gather from flowers.

•What might the frog be eaten by?

What does this food chain show?

• The plant is eaten by the slug.

• The slug is eaten by the frog.

• The frog is eaten by the heron.

•The arrow means “is eaten by”.

•The insect is eaten by the frog.

Can you show a different food chain?

This is a beach food chain

Can you describe what is happening?

Who can show another food chain?

•What did each food chain begin with?

•Yes!•Almost every food chain starts with a green plant.

• Plants are called

•PRODUCERS• They produce

(make) their own food and provide food for animals

•Animals are called

•CONSUMERS •They consume

(eat) other animals or plants

•Animals that hunt and eat other animals are called

•PREDATORS

•Animals that are hunted and eaten by other animals are called their

•PREY

Can you name some predators?

Can you name some animals that are

prey?

Some animals can be predators and prey. Can you

name any?(Clue: The first slide showed

one.)

Energy flow

• Each animal in the food chain eats another animal or a plant in order to gain energy.

• The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive.

What people do

• Sometimes, humans cause problems for the plants and animals in an ecosystem.

• Oil spills pollute the sea and beaches.

• Forests are cut down to make way for roads, and so that land is available for cattle to graze.

• What happens to the other animals and plants in a food chain if one or more members of the chain are removed?

Match the words and phrases.

A food chain showsMost food

chains start withPlants are

Animals are

Animals that hunt and eat others are calledAnimals that are caught

and eaten are called

producers

consumers

predatorsprey

a green plant

what is eaten by what

Excellent!