S.G.A.D.Govt.Girls.Sec.

School (TT)
Prepared by: - Mrs.Daljit Kaur
Guided by: - Raman Kumar
Food Chain
The complex energy relationship between plants
and animals often illustrate as a pyramid. The sun is the
original source of energy in virtually all ecosystems .Green
plants are called producers because they convert energy of
sun light into carbohydrate through the process of
photosynthesis.90% energy contain in the food an animals
eats is used for the animals movements, growth and repair of
tissue, or is lost as heat or in waste product just 10%
chemical energy in the food remains in the animal to be passed on the next level of pyramid.
When primary consumers (herbivores) eat the producers, the energy changes into a form that
can be stored in animal cells. Secondary consumers (carnivores) transform the energy once
again. Decomposers may occupy several positions in the pyramid, both receiving energy from
decaying plants and animals and supplying it to detrivores and fungus-eaters. With less energy
available at the top of pyramid than at the base.
⇒ Green plants, the primary producers of food in most terrestrial food webs
⇒ Herbivores, consumers of green plants
⇒ Carnivores, predators feeding upon the herbivores
⇒ Omnivores, consumers of both plants and animals
⇒ Secondary carnivores, which are predators that feed on predators, It make complete food
chain.
For example, the fungi that decompose matter in a
detrital web may sprout mushrooms that are consumed by
squirrels, mice, and deer in a grazing web. Robins are
omnivores, that is, consumers of both plants and animals, and
thus are in both detrital and grazing webs. Robins typically
feed on earthworms, which are detritivores that feed upon
decaying leaves.

References:- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia.