RELATIONSHIPS IN ECOSYSTEMS: FOOD CHAINS

To show how living things feed off other living things in an ecosystem, we can draw them in a row and link them with arrows.
This is called a food chain.
The rabbit eats the grass.
The rabbit is a primary consumer.
The genet eats the rabbit.
The genet is a secondary consumer.

GRASS. PRODUCER. From wikipedia.

RABBIT. PRIMARY CONSUMER. From wikipedia

GENET. SECONDARY CONSUMER. From wikipedia

 

RELATIONSHIPS IN ECOSYSTEMS: FOOD

In an ecosystem, each type of living thing needs different food.

• Plants produce their own food.
• Herbivores eat plants.
• Carnivores eat other animals.

Plants are called producers because they produce their own food.

Animals are called consumers because they eat, or consume, other living things.

Plants are essential, they produce the food which all living things need.