Food Chains

What Is a Food Chain?

A food chain shows who eats whom in nature.
It starts with plants, which make their own food from sunlight.
Animals that eat plants are called Herbivores.
Animals that eat other animals are called Carnivores.
Sometimes an animal eats both plants and meat – those are Omnivores.
When one animal is eaten, its energy moves to the next animal in the chain.

The Main Players

Level	Who it is	What they eat
1. Producers	Plants, algae, some bacteria	They make food from sunlight (photosynthesis).
2. Primary Consumers	Rabbits, insects, small fish	They eat the producers.
3. Secondary Consumers	Frogs, small birds, larger fish	They eat the primary consumers.
4. Tertiary Consumers	Hawks, snakes, big cats	They eat the secondary consumers.
5. Decomposers	Earthworms, fungi, bacteria	They break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.

Each step is called a Trophic Level. Most food chains have 3‑5 levels before the energy runs out.

Why Food Chains Matter

• Balance: When one part of the chain changes, the whole system can shift. If too many rabbits disappear, the plants they eat may grow too much.
• Survival: Animals need the right amount of food to stay healthy. A broken chain can leave some animals hungry.
• Recycling: Decomposers turn dead things into soil, helping new plants grow. This keeps the cycle going.

Remember, food chains are like nature’s recycling system. Every creature, big or small, has a role that helps the Earth stay healthy.