Australian Chaparral Food Web
Solar Radiation: Most plants are able to make food directly from the Sun. This process is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is possible because plants have chlorophyll. It captures the Sun’s energy and uses it to make sugars out of carbon dioxide from the air and water. The sugars fuel a plant's roots, stems, and leaves so the plant can grow. Plants in the Australian chaparral are Blue Oak, King Protea, Torrey Pine Tree, Fairy Duster, Sagebrush, and almost all Eucalyptus trees. Primary Consumer: A primary consumer is an organism that feeds on plants, or an herbivore. Their diet, more specifically, consists of leaves, grasses, fungus, flowering shrubs and other hedging plants. Cows, horses, elephants, deer, and rabbits are all primary consumers. Secondary Consumer: Secondary Consumers, usually animals, eat primary consumers. They are either carnivores or omnivores. They come in all shapes and sizes. Examples are wolves, crocodiles, rats, and piranhas are secondary consumers. Some eat animals that are bigger than them, like weasels, and some eat animals that are smaller that them. Shrews, birds and lizards eat insects. Tertiary Consumer: These are animals that eat secondary consumers. Depending on the biome, there could be another trophic level. The Australian Chaparral also has quaternary consumers. Quaternary Consumer: A quaternary consumer is an animal that is at the top of the food chain. They are also known as apex predators. These animals usually eat other animals lower on the food chain. Examples are lions, tigers, pumas, jaguars, wolves, and some snakes are at the top of the food chain. Predators: Predators are organisms that prey upon other organisms. Detrivores: Detrivores feed on dead organisms. |