ECOSYSTEMS Unit 3
(Part 2)
, FOOD CHAIN
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. It illust
feeding relationship where energy flows from one trophic level to another, starting with producers and ending with top consum
Trophic Levels in a Food Chain:
1. Producers (Autotrophs):
1. Producers form the base of the food chain.
2. Examples: Green plants, algae, phytoplankton.
3. Process: Through photosynthesis, producers convert solar energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.
2. Primary Consumers (Herbivores):
1. These organisms consume producers.
2. Examples: Insects like grasshoppers, animals like deer, and aquatic organisms like zooplankton.
3. Secondary Consumers (Carnivores):
1. They feed on primary consumers.
2. Examples: Frogs, small birds, and certain fish.
4. Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores):
1. These organisms are apex predators that feed on secondary consumers.
2. Examples: Lions, hawks, etc.
5. Decomposers (Break down dead organic matter):
1. Decomposers are not part of the direct linear flow of the food chain but are essential in recycling nutrients.
2. Examples: Bacteria, fungi, and earthworms.
,
(Part 2)
, FOOD CHAIN
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. It illust
feeding relationship where energy flows from one trophic level to another, starting with producers and ending with top consum
Trophic Levels in a Food Chain:
1. Producers (Autotrophs):
1. Producers form the base of the food chain.
2. Examples: Green plants, algae, phytoplankton.
3. Process: Through photosynthesis, producers convert solar energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.
2. Primary Consumers (Herbivores):
1. These organisms consume producers.
2. Examples: Insects like grasshoppers, animals like deer, and aquatic organisms like zooplankton.
3. Secondary Consumers (Carnivores):
1. They feed on primary consumers.
2. Examples: Frogs, small birds, and certain fish.
4. Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores):
1. These organisms are apex predators that feed on secondary consumers.
2. Examples: Lions, hawks, etc.
5. Decomposers (Break down dead organic matter):
1. Decomposers are not part of the direct linear flow of the food chain but are essential in recycling nutrients.
2. Examples: Bacteria, fungi, and earthworms.
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