Food chains show how organisms within an ecosystem rely on each other for energy and nutrients. Plants are producers as they produce their own food through photosynthesis. Herbivores consume plants and carnivores consume herbivores or other carnivores. Lions are an example of an apex predator, occupying the top of some terrestrial food chains, as no other animals prey on them. Disruptions anywhere in a food chain can impact the entire ecosystem.

1. FOOD CHAINS

2. All living things need food for survival.
A food chain shows how plants, animals and humans
rely on each other for food.

3. Animals get energy and nutrients by eating other
animals or plants.
Carterpillars eat leaves
Mice eat carterpillars
Owls eat mice

4. The arrow means is eaten by

5. Nearly all food chains start
with a plant.
The lettuce is eaten by the slug, the slug is eaten by the bird.

6. Food Chains
A food chain shows what is eaten.
The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit.

7. Food Chains
A food chain shows what is eaten.
The fly is eaten by the thrush.

8. The top of the food chain.
Some animals are said to be at the top of the food chain. This is
because they are not hunted by other animals.
No other animal hunts the lion. The lion
is at the top of the food chain. Can you
think why?

9. Producers
• Plants do not eat other plants or animals.
• Plants are called producers, because they produce their own food
using sunlight.

10. Consumers
• “Consume” means “eat”.
• Animals are consumers because they “eat” (consume) food
provided by plants or other animals.

11. Decomposer
They eat decaying matter - dead plants and animals and in the process they
break them down and decompose them.
They release nutrients and mineral salts back into the soil - which then will
be used by plants
Bacteria and fungi are decomposers.

12. Changes to food chains
If one part of a food chain alters, the whole food chain is affected.
For example, if a disease suddenly wiped out caterpillars, it would
affect mice, owls and many other animals.

13. Which do you think comes first
in the food chain?

14. Producer Secondary consumerPrimary consumer
The Food Chain
Eaten By Eaten By
Who is the Producer?

15. Is the fox a producer or a consumer?

16. Producers Consumers
Can you sort these into the right categories?

17. Can you give me one example of a carnivore?
Can you give me one example of a producer?
Can you give me one example of a consumer?
Can you tell me what a herbivore is?
Can you tell me what an omnivore is?
Can you tell me what a carnivore is?
So what can you tell me
about this ladybird now?