A Food Chain Example Game Online

This page features a Food Chain Example Game Online. In this game children will learn about trophic levels, primary and secondary producers, decomposers and more. Also learn about photosynthesis where it all starts. This game is suitable for homeschooling and classrooms for students in 3rd to 7th grades.

 

The basics of the food chain

A food chain is defined as the process by which an organism passes energy and matter from one trophic level to the next. All organisms in a food chain are at a particular trophic level. The chain consists of three parts called primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers. At each of these steps, energy is transferred from producers to consumers. 

If you have ever wondered how plants and animals interrelated, you may have encountered the concept of a food chain. A food chain is a continuous cycle that begins with primary consumers. Producers are always plants because they receive energy from the sun and produce food. For example, the grasshopper eats grass, which in turn is eaten by owls and shrews. In the ocean, phytoplankton, microscopic plants, feed zooplankton. These animals in turn feed on fish, seals, sharks and other marine animals.

Decomposers are an essential part of a food chain

Decomposers are living organisms that break down dead organic material, releasing valuable energy and nutrients that they then return to the environment. Therefore, decomposers play an important role in the food chain, providing primary-producing plants and animals with the materials they need to thrive. Decomposers are the lowest link in the food chain and play a key role in the transfer of materials and energy from one organism to another.

The process of decomposition is an active process and necessary to ensure ecosystem health. Decomposers break down dead organic material and provide vital nutrients to living organisms. In some ecosystems, decomposers are considered a trophic level of their own. This means that they feed on the dead material from the lower levels of the food chain. These creatures feed on plant and animal remains, including animal carcasses.

Producers produce food

Producers use photosynthesis to produce sugars or food. These plants use energy from sunlight, water, and other natural resources to make their food. Some producers also use algae as food. Producers play many different roles. 

Photosynthetic producers depend on sunlight to produce food. This process is called photosynthesis and involves algae and plants that need to live in areas with lots of sunlight. Producers that use chemicals are called chemotrophs. These organisms live deep in the ocean where chemicals flow into the water from cracks in the mid-ocean ridge. These organisms are an important part of our planet's ecosystem, providing it with oxygen.

Scavengers feed on decomposing organisms

Some scavengers feed on dead animals or plants. In the wild, they may eat mice, fruits, seeds, and nuts. In developed areas, they may eat roadkill that has been hit by a car. Other scavengers, such as gulls and foxes, may eat decomposing animals.

Some scavengers specialize in feeding on dead animals and plants, while others feed on dead plant material. Scavengers play an important role in the detrital food web of ecosystems because they break down dead organic material into simpler components and prevent excessive accumulation of dead biomass. While scavengers are an important part of the decomposition process, other organisms are also vital to the environment. Some bacteria and fungi decompose meat and waste from carnivorous animals, while others feed only on plants and fruits.

Limitation of energy transfer in a food chain.

The first law of thermodynamics describes how energy is transferred in a food chain; energy is produced or transferred. This can be calculated based on the energy budget in a food chain. A food chain with only one producer is efficient, while a food chain with many consumers is inefficient. 

As a result of the limitation of energy transfer, trophic levels are limited. Biological systems typically have three to five levels of trophic levels. The higher a food chain ascends, the less energy it can supply to the following trophic level.

Examples of a food chain

Many examples of a food chain follow a specific path. For example, a decomposing tree is a food source for bacteria that feed on plant debris. The decomposing tree also feeds fungi that consume cellulose. Each of these organisms requires energy to perform complex tasks. The chain of events is called the trophic level. 

This process occurs in a variety of ecosystems, from aquatic organisms to humans. In many cases, food chains are circular in nature and involve many steps from source to end user.