Food Chains and Food Webs (Part 2)

What You'll Learn

Food webs show the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem. Unlike a simple food chain, a food web shows that most organisms eat more than one type of food.

Key Words

producer
consumer
decomposer

Materials Needed

magnifying glass
paper towels
markers
tape

Safety First

Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Light Optics before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Set up a composting experiment: place food scraps in one sealed bag and leaves in another. Observe decomposition over two weeks and record changes.

Step 3 — Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 — Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the main source of energy for most food chains?