Food Chain
A field of green grass waves in the wind. A furry rabbit hops by and nibbles the grass. As the rabbit scurries around, an owl perches overhead. The owl swoops down, grabs the rabbit, and flies away to eat it. When it has eaten its fill, the owl leaves part of the rabbit’s body in another field of grass. The rabbit’s body feeds the soil.
It may seem cruel that animals kill and eat one another. But this is just one way in which wild creatures help each other and keep nature in balance. The grass, the rabbit and the owl are part of an important system in nature called a food chain.
All food chains begin with sunlight. Sunlight provides food for plants. Plants are the primary producers in a food chain. They use sunlight, water, and air to produce food to live and grow.
Animals that eat plants are another link in the food chain. They are consumers. Animals that eat the plant-eating animals are also consumers. The rabbit and the owl are consumers.
Tiny living things called decomposers are also part of the food chain. They break down dead plants and animals into parts. These parts nourish the soil in which the plants grow.
Picture Credit : Google