FOOD CHAIN

Introduction

 All living things need food for

survival.

 A food chain shows how plants,

animals and humans rely on each
other for food.
 This section includes:

1. Animals and plants are linked by food

chains.

2. Producers and consumers

3. Prey and predators

 Animals and plants are linked by
food chains
1. Animals get energy and nutrients by eating other animals
or plants.

2. For example
◦ caterpillars eat leaves

◦ mice eat caterpillars

◦ owls eat mice

3. These links between animals and plants
are called food chains.

4. The arrow means 'is eaten by'.

5. Nearly all food chains start with a green

plant.

6. Most animals and plants are part of more

than one food chain.
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.
Producers and consumers

Producers

 Plants are
called producers because
they make their own food.
They are at the start of a
food chain.

 Plants get their energy from

the Sun.
Consumers

 Animals are
called consumers
because they eat
other plants and
animals.
Prey and predators

1. A predator is an
animal that eats other
animals.

2. The animals that

predators eat are
called prey.

3. Predators are found at

the end of a food chain.

4. The fox will eat the

rabbit. The fox is the
predator and the rabbit
is the prey.
QUIZ……….
1. What is a food chain?

a) A process that starts with ingredients and

ends with cooked food

b) A long chain made of food

c) How animals depend on plants and animals for

their food and survival
Answer : C
2. Which part of a food chain is affected by
one animal becoming extinct?

a) The whole food chain is affected

b) Only animals at the top of the food chain are

affected

c) Only plants and animals at the bottom of the

food chain are affected
Answer : A
3. What part do humans play in food
chains?

a) Producers

b) Consumers

c) Humans are not part of food chains

Answer : B
4. Which is an example of a consumer
eating another consumer?

a) A rabbit eating grass

b) A hedgehog eating a spider

c) A squirrel eating nuts

Answer : B
5. A producer uses energy from the Sun to
make food. Which of these is NOT a
producer?

a) An oak tree

b) A stinging nettle

c) A caterpillar
Answer : C
6. A consumer gets its food by eating other
organisms. Which of these is NOT a
consumer?

a) A holly bush

b) An earthworm

c) A hedgehog
Answer : A
7. What do you always find at the start of a
food chain or web?

a) An insect

b) A bird of prey

c) A green plant
Answer : C
8. Why do food chains and food webs start
with green plants?

a) Because plants can absorb the Sun's energy

to produce food

b) Because most green plants are tasty

c) Because most green plants eat other plants

Answer : A
9. What do you call an animal that hunts
and eats other animals?

a) Predator

b) Prey

c) Producer
Answer : A
10. A wood mouse eats leaves for food. A
badger eats wood mice for food. Which
animal is the prey in this food chain?

a) Badger

b) Wood mouse

c) Neither animal
Answer : B