Food Chains & Webs
Science: KS3, topic 1.3.2
Food Chains & Webs
Food chains show the feeding relationships and transfers of energy within a community. Below are some important definitions of the types of organisms found in food chains:
Producer
- An organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight.
Consumer
- An organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms.
- Depending on the position of the consumer in the food chain, it may be classed as primary, secondary or tertiary.
Herbivore
- Animals that get their energy from eating plants.
- Primary consumers.
Carnivore
- Animals that get their energy from eating other animals.
- Secondary and tertiary consumers.
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What is a food web?
- Food webs show networks of interconnected food chains.
Test yourself on Food Chains & Webs
Name the first four components of a typical food chain
Producers make their own food using light energy from the sun. What is this process called?
In food chain A, an oak tree is eaten by a caterpillar. The caterpillar is eaten by a blue tit, and the blue tit is eaten by a sparrowhawk. In food chain B, grass is eaten by a grasshopper, which is eaten by a frog. Which food chain has more consumers?