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Food chains �and webs

NSW National Parks Education

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What are food chains and webs?

Food chains and food webs show who eats who �and what in nature. �
They show the different pathways that energy �and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.�
In food chains and food webs, energy flows between producers (plants) and consumers (animals).

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

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Why are food chains and food �webs important?

Food chains and food webs are important for the �survival of all living things (and ecosystems).�
Plants need energy to move, grow and reproduce. �Animals need energy to: eat, move, develop, reproduce �and build shelter.�
Plants and animals in a food chain are interdependent. �This means they need each other to survive.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

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Food web

A food web is a group of connecting �food chains that shows how energy �flows through an ecosystem.

How many food chains can you see �in this food web?

Arrows show the energy flow.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

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Food chain

A food web is a group of connecting �food chains that shows how energy flows through an ecosystem.

How many food chains can you see �in this food web?

Arrows show the energy flow.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

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Primary consumer

Possum

Decomposer

Fungus and bacteria

Producer

Leaves and fruit

Secondary consumer

Quoll

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Producers

All food chains start with a producer.

Producers make their own food to get energy for survival. They include plants, bacteria and algae.

Plants make their own food using a process called photosynthesis.

The sun’s rays and the plant’s green leaves make energy.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

Photosynthesis

Water + Carbon dioxide

Sunlight

Chlorophyll�in leaves

Glucose + Oxygen

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Consumers

Animals need to eat to get energy for survival; they are consumers.

Primary consumers are animals that eat plants. They are herbivores or omnivores.

Herbivores are animals that eat only plants, leaves, flowers or fruit. Omnivores eat both plants and animals to get energy.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

Brush-tailed rock-wallaby (herbivore)

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Consumers

In a food chain, secondary consumers are living organisms that eat animals to get energy. They are omnivores or carnivores.

Carnivores are at the top of the food chain and are animals that eat other animals. They are also known as predators as they catch prey by hunting for their food.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

Spotted-tailed quoll (carnivore)

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Decomposers

Decomposers break down dead �or decaying plant and animal material. They include bacteria or fungus.

Bacteria and fungi are extremely important as they put essential nutrients back into soil to help plants grow; making an energy flow cycle.

However, some food chains do not show decomposers in the flow of energy.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

Fungus and bacteria - decomposer

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Summary

Food chains and food webs show who eats who and what �in nature. They also show how energy and nutrients are transferred through an ecosystem.

All living things need energy to survive; for growth, movement and reproduction. Plants are called producers as they make their own food for energy. Animals are consumers as they need to eat to get energy.

Plants and animals in food chains and food webs are interdependent. This means they rely on each other �for survival.

NSW National Parks Education | Food chains and webs

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