Ecosystems and Food Chains

Ecosystems and Food Chains

By Mr. Berkley

What is an ECOSYSTEM?

An ecosystem is an area in which living and non-living organisms line together and interact with each other.

What makes up an ecosystem?

• Producer - an organism that makes its own food naturally

• Consumer - an organism that

• Decomposer - all of the combined populations in an ecosystem (rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean)

Open Ended

What are some living and non-living organisms that your would find in an ocean? Name as many as you can think of.

Open Ended

What are some living and non-living organisms that your would find in a desert? Name as many as you can think of.

What are food chains?

A food chain is the relationship between organisms that eat other organisms and the organisms that they eat.

The Three Members of the Food Chain

• Producer - organisms that produce their own food (example: plants)

• Consumer - organisms that eat other organisms to survive (examples: humans. horses, fish)

• Decomposer - organisms that break down dead and decaying organisms (examples: mushrooms, bacteria, maggots)

The Three Types of Eaters

• Herbivore - consumer that eats plants (examples: cows, zebras, rabbits)

• Carnivore - consumer that eats animals (examples: lions, tigers, sharks)

• Omnivore - consumer that eats both plants AND animals (examples: humans, bears, raccoons)

Multiple Choice

An owl eats organisms like mice, squirrels, and rabbits. An owl is a example of a

• herbivore

• carnivore

• omnivore

• producer

Multiple Choice

A tree grows with the help of sunlight, water, soil, and air. A tree is an example of a

• producer

• consumer

• decomposer

• omnivore