ACCESS Ecosystem: food chains and food webs.

ACCESS Ecosystem:

food chains and

food webs.

ecosystem

a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together

food chain

The sequence of the transfer of food energy from one organism to another

food web

consists of many food chains linked together to show the feeding relationships of organisms in an ecosystem.

producers

organisms that produce their own food (for example, plants or algae)

consumers

animals that get their energy by eating plants or other animals (for example, insects, birds, eagles, bears, etc.)

decomposers

an organism that decomposes, or breaks down, organic material such as the remains of dead organisms (for example, worms, fungi or bacteria)

herbivores

animals that eat only plants

omnivores

animals that eat both animals and plants

carnivores

animals that eat only the meat from other animals

Multiple Choice

a cow is ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

a tiger is ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

a fox is ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

a monkey is ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

a snail is ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

You are ...

• an herbivore

• an omnivore

• a carnivore

Multiple Choice

Which of these are producers?

Multiple Choice

Which of these are consumers?

Multiple Choice

Which of these are decomposers?

Reading.

Food chains and webs.

Food chains

Living things need energy to grow, breathe, reproduce, and move. Energy cannot be created from nothing, so it must be transferred through the ecosystem. The primary source of energy for almost every ecosystem on Earth is the sun.

Plants get energy from the sun. They use this energy to grow and to make food for some animals. We call plants producers because they produce food. All food chains start with producers.

Animals get energy from their food. They eat plants or other animals. We call them consumers because they consume food.

Flies, worms and ants eat dead plants and animals. They are called decomposers. They can eat everything in the food chain. Some animals eat decomposers too.

These are food chains. They show what animals eat. A deer eats grass, and then a lion eats the deer. The arrows show how energy moves from one living thing to another. The grass gives energy to the deer, and then the deer gives energy to the lion. The second food chain shows how energy moves from maize to a mouse, then the mouse gives energy to the snake, and the snake gives energy to the hawk.

We can join food chains together to make a food web. This food web shows some food chains in a wood.

Get ready for answering questions!

Multiple Choice

Plants get energy from the sun.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Food gives animals energy.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Carnivores eat plants.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Herbivores don't eat other animals.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Omnivores eat other animals.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

All food chains start with a consumer

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Snakes get energy from hawks.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Decomposers eat dead animals and plants.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The primary source of energy for almost every ecosystem on Earth is plants.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Living things need energy only to breathe.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Energy cannot be created from nothing.

• TRUE

• FALSE