FOOD CHAINS
What are the relationships between plants AND animals?
Food chains show a food relationship among plants and animals in a specific area or environment. This could be terrestrial or in an aquatic environment.
- Terrestrial organisms are found on land habitats such as deserts, grasslands, and forests.
- Aquatic organisms are found in water habitats such as ponds, marshes, swamps, rivers, and oceans.
- A food chain begins with a green plant usually!
- Explanation of the owl food chain:
- The plant is the producer
- the insect eats the plant
- The mouse eats the insect
- The owl eats the mouse
Producers → Consumers → Decomposers
Producer
A green plant makes it own food from sunlight, air, and water.
Consumer
An animal that eats living organisms (plant or animal).
Decomposer
Certain organisms break down decayed plants and animals into smaller pieces that can be used again by living things.
Types of Consumers!
Herbivore
An animal that eats only plants.
Carnivore
An animal that eats only other animals.
Omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and animals.
Predator vs. Prey relationship
Animals within the food chain can have a predator versus prey relationship. An animal can hunt other animals to get its food is a predator. An animal can be hunted by another animal for food is the prey.