The image illustrates a food web, depicting the interconnectedness of various species. The screen divides into two halves: the right displays the food web image, while the left introduces the video's title, "Understanding Food Webs."
Cattle and sheep are grazing in the field. Insects are observed floating on the water's surface. Horses are grazing in the grass.
The cycle of energy is one of the most important in any ecosystem. Plants, animals, microorganisms and even insects interact within an ecosystem to cycle energy.
The screen divides into two halves again: the right shows the food web image, while the left describes the "Food Chain" and its role in ecosystems.
A food chain is a model of how the energy flows from one living organism to another within the ecosystem. Producers, consumers, and decomposers interact to make up food webs.
Sunflowers are visible in the farmland.
Let’s take a look at these classification categories in the food cycle.
Wind causes the crops to sway in the field. A text box explains the role of producers in photosynthesis, transitioning to images of sunflower plants.
Producers are plants and they use the sun’s energy in a process called photosynthesis to produce their own food.
Cattle grazing transitions to an image of corn.
Grasses, grains, and forages grow in regions with suitable climates.
Horses grazing the grass are linked to a text explaining the role of consumers in the food chain.
Consumers cannot produce their own food, so they must feed on plants or other animals.
A deer in the forest is shown, transitioning to animals grazing the grass.
Deer, cattle, and rabbits are examples of consumers that might feed on the grasses, grains, and forage.
A black insect crawls on the ground. The text explains the role of decomposers, transitioning to images of fungi, bacteria, and dead animals.
Decomposers are organisms that break down dead plant and animal material. Fungi, bacteria, and even some insects are decomposers. When an animal dies, these decomposers are responsible for moving the energy back into the soil and atmosphere.
A body of water flows through a natural habitat.
Another important component of the food web is the land.
Various animals graze and roam in the field. The text box describes carrying capacity and its relationship to food webs, habitat, and species numbers.
The land supports the life of the consumer group. The maximum population of a species that a parcel of land can sustain indefinitely is called “carrying capacity.” Habitat, food, shelter, and water available on the land directly affect the carrying capacity. Weather, migration, and species numbers can change the balance within the food web.
The image transitions from severe drought to a desert landscape.
For example, a severe drought can reduce the food supply in an area, and that in turn causes species to leave the area in search of more abundant water and food sources.
A fish is held in human hands.
Not all species are native or naturally occurring to a region.
The image shows water crops, discussing the impact of introducing new species into food cycles, transitioning to a fish lying on the grass.
The introduction of a new species can affect the balance in a food cycle. Invasive species can be plants or animals. Asian carp are a fast-growing aggressive fish with the ability to reproduce rapidly, and they have no natural predators.
Fish are swimming rapidly in the water.
Large quantities of Asian carp could eat all of the plankton that other species consume and if they thrive there it could be impossible to eradicate them or control their numbers.
A sequence of images displays different states of water hyacinth plants.
The water hyacinth is an example of a plant invader. This warm water perennial reproduces rapidly, it is capable of doubling its mass in as little as two weeks in the heat of summer. You can see the water hyacinth can quickly cover an entire pond or lake – thus choking out the oxygen needed by fish, frogs, turtles, and other aquatic species.
Another sequence depicts invasive species of plants and animals.
Think of examples of plant and animal invasive species you may know of in your area.
A Backhoe Loader is shown destroying a plant.
Have there been efforts to eradicate these species or bring balance back into the food cycle?
Two images illustrate floods and deserts.
Has your area experienced drought or flooding? How did it affect the wildlife population in your area?
The food web image returns, transitioning to images of deer and horses grazing and roaming in the field.
Understanding this hierarchy of energy consumption will allow you to understand more about the local ecosystem, the species it supports, and the role each plays in the broader food web.
A red bird is perched on a tree branch.