Life Science – Life Science – 44thth Grade Grade

L.O. I will describe food L.O. I will describe food chains in detail.chains in detail.

Food ChainsFood Chains Shows path of food energyShows path of food energy *The first link in a food chain is a *The first link in a food chain is a

producer.producer. All living things need energy to surviveAll living things need energy to survive They get energy from foodThey get energy from food Some eat plantsSome eat plants Some eat other animalsSome eat other animals Plants don’t eat food, they make their Plants don’t eat food, they make their

ownown

*Producers*Producers *Plants and trees are the producers*Plants and trees are the producers **mainmain source of energy in food chain source of energy in food chain Use sunlight to make food - PhotosynthesisUse sunlight to make food - Photosynthesis Get their energy from the sunGet their energy from the sun **OriginalOriginal source of energy for living things is the sun source of energy for living things is the sun

*Consumers*Consumers *Animals that consume or eat*Animals that consume or eat They eat other animals and/ orThey eat other animals and/ or They eat producers (plants)They eat producers (plants) * * Energy flows from the sun to PRODUCERS (plants producing food) to Energy flows from the sun to PRODUCERS (plants producing food) to

CONSUMERSCONSUMERS **The other 3 links The other 3 links in a food chain are Herbivores, Carnivores, and in a food chain are Herbivores, Carnivores, and

OmnivoresOmnivores

11stst type of consumer - type of consumer - HerbivoresHerbivores

*Eat only producers -plants*Eat only producers -plants

grasshopper mouse bison

butterfly

22ndnd type of consumers – type of consumers – CarnivoresCarnivores

*Only eat other animals – *Only eat other animals – consumersconsumers

snake hawk coyote

33rdrd type of type of consumer – consumer – OmnivoresOmnivores

Animals that eat both producers and Animals that eat both producers and consumersconsumers

raccoon grizzly bear pig

And don’t forget HUMANS!

Food ChainFood Chain

Producer1st

ConsumerHerbivore

grassMouse

owlenergy flows to

energy flows to

energy flows to

coyote

*DEPEND ON EACH OTHER,But also COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER

DAY 2DAY 2

Organism – a living thingOrganism – a living thing Cell is basic unit that makes up all Cell is basic unit that makes up all

living things living things

Microorganism- organism that Microorganism- organism that cannot be seen without microscope cannot be seen without microscope

Some microorganisms have one cell – Some microorganisms have one cell – algae, amoeba, yeast, and algae, amoeba, yeast, and bacteriabacteria

Bacteria are microorganisms found in all Bacteria are microorganisms found in all living organisms and everywhere on earthliving organisms and everywhere on earth

Some bacteria can be bad and make you Some bacteria can be bad and make you sick – but most are goodsick – but most are good

**FungiFungi are organisms – examples are are organisms – examples are **mushroomsmushrooms and mold and mold

Mold can spoil food, but mushrooms Mold can spoil food, but mushrooms are yummy to eat and are good for are yummy to eat and are good for you you

Producer (plant/tree) diesProducer (plant/tree) dies Microorganisms start using dead Microorganisms start using dead

producer to grow, but in the process producer to grow, but in the process are breaking down the dead producerare breaking down the dead producer

DecomposersDecomposers They are consumersThey are consumers *They break down the remains *They break down the remains

of dead organismsof dead organisms *So, bacteria and fungi helps in *So, bacteria and fungi helps in

decompositiondecomposition of a fallen tree of a fallen tree They connect both ends of the They connect both ends of the

food chainfood chain

bacteriamushrooms

maggots

earthworms

*Bacteria *Bacteria helpshelps to to recyclerecycle matter matter and and nutrientsnutrients from dead plants from dead plants backback into the soil into the soil

So all food chains end with So all food chains end with decomposersdecomposers

Decomposers break down dead stuff, Decomposers break down dead stuff, recycling nutrients back into soil to recycling nutrients back into soil to be used by new plants, starting the be used by new plants, starting the process all over againprocess all over again

*Microorganisms are important to the *Microorganisms are important to the ecosystemecosystem

What is an ecosystem?What is an ecosystem?

EcosystemsEcosystems are made up of are made up of living and living and non-living thingsnon-living things that interact in an area that interact in an area

**In a tropical rainforest:**In a tropical rainforest: Colorful birds Colorful birds Fruit and nut treesFruit and nut trees Warm all the timeWarm all the time Lots of rainLots of rain

In a desert:In a desert: Cactus Cactus LizardsLizards SnakesSnakes TortoiseTortoise

*Non-living is water, air, soil, and light*Non-living is water, air, soil, and light *The differences in non-living *The differences in non-living

elements determine elements determine life or death life or death in in an ecosystem.an ecosystem.

*2 ways animals can help in the *2 ways animals can help in the dispersal (spreading) of seeds so dispersal (spreading) of seeds so plants can grow in different areasplants can grow in different areas

*Birds drop them *Birds drop them *Seeds stick on animal fur – animal *Seeds stick on animal fur – animal

drops seeds in other places, new drops seeds in other places, new plants grow thereplants grow there