A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms in a food web where each organism transfers energy by being eaten. Producers, like plants, are the first links as they get energy from the sun. Herbivores eat producers. Carnivores eat herbivores or other carnivores. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Detrivores and decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. If one link is removed, it affects the entire food chain.

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2. 2
What is a Food
Chain?

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A Food Chain is a linear
sequence of links in a food web
starting from species that are
called producers and ends at
species that are called
decomposers.

4. 4
An Example of a Food Chain

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6. Food Chain follows
a single path as
animals eat each
other
while
Food Web shows
how plants &
animals are
interconnected by
different paths.
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 FFoorr eexxaammppllee,, ccaatteerrppiillllaarrss eeaattss lleeaavveess;; ssmmaallll bbiirrddss eeaatt ccaatteerrppiillllaarrss;; oowwllss
eeaatt ssmmaallll bbiirrddss;; eeaagglleess eeaatt oowwllss..
 TThheessee lliinnkkss bbeettwweeeenn aanniimmaallss aanndd ppllaannttss aarree ccaalllleedd ffoooodd cchhaaiinnss..
 NNeeaarrllyy aallll ffoooodd cchhaaiinnss ssttaarrtt wwiitthh aa ggrreeeenn ppllaanntt..
 IIff oonnee ppaarrtt ooff aa ffoooodd cchhaaiinn aalltteerrss,, tthhee wwhhoollee ffoooodd cchhaaiinn iiss aaffffeecctteedd.. FFoorr
eexxaammppllee,, iiff aa ddiisseeaassee ssuuddddeennllyy wwiippeedd oouutt ccaatteerrppiillllaarrss,, iitt wwoouulldd aaffffeecctt
oowwllss,, eeaagglleess aanndd mmaannyy ootthheerr aanniimmaallss..

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Components of a
Food Chain

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Producers
Are organisms that make their own food from
a primary source such as sunlight. They are
often called autotrophs or primary producers.
They are at the start of a food chain.
PPrroodduucceerr

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Herbivores
Herbivores or Primary
Consumers are
animals that only eat
plants.

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Carnivores
Carnivores or Secondary Consumers
are animals that eat meat.
Carnivores will also eat animals that
eat plants.

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Omnivores
Omnivores will eat both
plants and animals.
People are omnivores.

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Tertiary Consumers
Eat Secondary
Consumers

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Top Predators
Animals that have little or no
natural enemies.

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Detrivores and Decomposers
When any organism dies, it is
eventually eaten by
detrivores like:
Vulture
Worms
Crab

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Detrivores and Decomposers
When any organism dies, it is
eventually eaten by
detrivores like:
Vulture
Worms
Crab

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Detrivores and Decomposers
Organism eaten by detrivores is
broken down by decomposers
like bacteria and fungi.

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Note:
When one species goes
extinct, it can affect an
entire chain of other species
and have unpredictable
consequences.

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