Food Chain

A food chain is a diagram of species in an area. Each level eats the level below it and is eaten by the level above it. At the bottom of the food chain is a producer. These species, usually plants, produce their own food from the sun's energy during photosynthesis.  Next is a primary consumer. These are animals which eat plants exclusively. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. These can be carnivores or omnivores. After these are tertiary consumers, then quaternary and so forth. These can be carnivores, omnivores, or decomposers. As the level becomes higher, the animals become larger but less numerous. When food chains combine to include all animals and plants species eat, a food web is formed.

Below is an example of a food chain which exists in Canada.

Quaternary consumer-great horned owl
Tertiary consumer-weasel
Secondary consumer-bird
Primary consumer-mouse
Producer-shrub

 54° 0'15.30"N
 77°43'22.27"W