Download interact producer consumer ecosystem herbivore carnivore

Food Chain
Science Study Guide
SOL 3.5
Vocabulary Words
Definitions
interact
plants and animals work together with
the environment to get what they need
producer
a living thing that makes its own food
consumer
a living thing that can not make its own
food and eats other living things
ecosystem
a carefully balanced system where
plants and animals live and work
together; this is also known as a
community
herbivore
an animal that eats only plants
carnivore
an animal that eats only meat
omnivore
an animal that eats plants and meat
food chain
The path of food and energy (in the form of
food) from one living thing to another.
food web
several food chains together
energy pyramid
A model that shows the amount of usable energy
in an ecosystem is less for each higher animal in
the food chain
predator
an animal that hunts and eats other animals
prey
an animal that is hunted and eaten by predators
decomposer
a living thing that breaks down dead plants and
animals into simpler matter
scavenger
an animal that feeds on dead plants and animals
Important Facts
1. The source of all energy on Earth comes from the Sun. Plants make their own
food and store any extra energy in their roots, stems, leaves, and flowers (seeds.)
Animals can not make their own food and depend on the plant world to do this for
them. This relationship is called an ecosystem. There are many ecosystems on the
earth and many habitats in each ecosystem. Each ecosystem has many plants and
animals living there. Another word for an ecosystem is a community.
2. Usually, plants are called producers and animals are consumers.
3. There are five kinds of consumers:
herbivores - animals that eat only plants
carnivores - animals that eat only meat
omnivores - animals that eat plants and meat
scavengers - animals that eat dead animals
(they let something else do the killing) such as
vultures, crows, crabs, hyenas
decomposers - living things that help break
down dead material i.e. molds, bacteria, fungi
4. Herbivores have flat teeth for chewing plants; carnivores have sharp teeth for tearing meat;
omnivores have both types of teeth.
5. Food chains always begin with the source of energy - the Sun; the next link is always a producer
(which is usually a plant); the next link will be a consumer which is usually an animal.
6. Energy is passed through a food chain in the form of food from one link to the next. Remember
this energy is from the Sun.
7. Food chains intermingle and blend together. When this happens, it is called a food web.
Ecosystems (communities) have many food webs within them.
8. If one link in a food chain is destroyed (dies), the entire chain is threatened. Each link works
together to keep the ecosystem in balance.
There are many types of
ecosystems/communities.
Some are:
9.
ponds
forests
lakes
swamps
rivers
plains
deserts
trees
oceans
Food Chain
Energy Pyramid
Click on link below to learn more about the Energy Pyramid
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/314/deploy/interface.html