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Food chain – Interdependence between plants and animals

Food and energy are necessary for all living things to survive. The Sun is the

main source of energy. Green plants make food with help of air, water and
sunlight by the process of photosynthesis. Plants are eaten by herbivores.

The herbivores are then eaten by carnivores. This forms a chain. The

feeding relationship between living things where energy flows from one
organism to the other organism is called the food chain.

For example, grass is eaten by a rat. Rat is eaten by a snake. Snake is eaten

by an eagle.
Plants Herbivore Carnivore Carnivore

Energy Energy Energy
Grass Rat Snake Eagle

Many carnivores eat herbivores. Some eat omnivores. In some food chains,

a bigger carnivore eats a smaller carnivore. For example, a seal eats fish.

Think &
Answer Plants and animals depend on each other for food. Do the humans depend
completely on plants or animals for their food?

When animals roam around, they help plants disperse their seeds. These

seeds germinate into new plants. So, they help in plant reproduction.

Some birds visit flowers to drink nectar. While doing so, they carry pollen

from one flower to another and thus, help in plant reproduction.

Food chains always begin with plants. All animals on earth depend directly

or indirectly on plants for food. So, plants are called the Primary Producers.

Some herbivores like cow, deer, elephant depend on plants for food. They

are called Primary Consumers.

Amazing Wild boars have one of the most adaptable diets among
Facts omnivores. They consume roots, shoots, fruits, nuts, seeds

and a variety of other plant materials. They eat a variety
of insects, earthworms, fish, rodents, birds, reptiles and
amphibians. Wild boar

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