Food Chains Practice
Instructions: Read the paragraphs below. Use that information to fill in the boxes of the chart. Then get food the food chain matching cards and create the 3 food chains by matching the pictures horizontally. Finally place the trophic level name above each name. This should create a diagram similar to the one below.
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In the ocean, food chains begin with producers that are not plants. They are algae. Algae come in many forms but one common alga is seaweed. Seaweed is eaten by many first consumers such as shrimp. The shrimp are then food for many fish and squid. The squid are preyed upon by sea lions and other sea predators. Finally the sea lions are eaten by very large predators such as the great white shark.
In the grassy plains of Texas, food chains begin with a logical source, grass! Grass is food for many first consumers such as grasshoppers. Grasshoppers reproduce very rapidly and can reach very large populations. They are food for many insect eating animals such as toads. Toads are very common in Texas plains because they can survive in much dryer ecosystems. Toads are preyed upon by many smaller predators such as the coral snake. The coral snake is a very unique snake with a red, yellow and black banded pattern. Coral snakes are eaten by birds of prey like owls and hawks.
In the springtime of Canada flowers bloom near rivers. These flowers produce a sweet smell and delicious nectar. This nectar may not be delicious to you and me but is a great food source for many insects such as flies. Flies are eaten by larger insect predators such as dragonflies. Dragonflies are common on the waters of a flowing river. But, lurking below the surface is a host of hungry fish. Salmon in particular eat insects that get to close. Salmon grow to enormous sizes and can reproduce quickly. In the summer and early fall, Grizzly Bears can be seen in the river catching salmon; getting fat for their long winter slumber.
In the grassy plains of Texas, food chains begin with a logical source, grass! Grass is food for many first consumers such as grasshoppers. Grasshoppers reproduce very rapidly and can reach very large populations. They are food for many insect eating animals such as toads. Toads are very common in Texas plains because they can survive in much dryer ecosystems. Toads are preyed upon by many smaller predators such as the coral snake. The coral snake is a very unique snake with a red, yellow and black banded pattern. Coral snakes are eaten by birds of prey like owls and hawks.
In the springtime of Canada flowers bloom near rivers. These flowers produce a sweet smell and delicious nectar. This nectar may not be delicious to you and me but is a great food source for many insects such as flies. Flies are eaten by larger insect predators such as dragonflies. Dragonflies are common on the waters of a flowing river. But, lurking below the surface is a host of hungry fish. Salmon in particular eat insects that get to close. Salmon grow to enormous sizes and can reproduce quickly. In the summer and early fall, Grizzly Bears can be seen in the river catching salmon; getting fat for their long winter slumber.