Question

step 1: use the space inside the boxes below to construct a food chain based on the example provided below (you may draw or write the names of the organisms).

• please keep in mind that a food chain always shows the producer first.
• arrows show the direction that energy is moving in as the energy moves through the food chain.

step 2: on the lines under each box, label the producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, apex predator, and decomposer/detritivore.
example: the box turtle ate the saw palmetto, the rattlesnake ate the box turtle, the hawk ate the rattlesnake, the panther ate the hawk, and the burying beetle broke down the panther when it died.
box: saw palmetto → box → box → box → box → box
lines under each box for labeling
example: bacteria breaks down (eats) a dead osprey, the osprey ate a spotted seatrout, the spotted seatrout ate a mud crab, the mud crab ate a marsh snail, the marsh snail ate cordgrass.
boxes and lines for another example

Explanation:

For the example with saw palmetto:

Step1: Identify Producer

The saw palmetto is a plant, so it's the producer. So first box: saw palmetto (producer)

Step2: Identify Primary Consumer

The box turtle eats the saw palmetto, so it's the primary consumer. Second box: box turtle (primary consumer)

Step3: Identify Secondary Consumer

The rattlesnake eats the box turtle, so it's the secondary consumer. Third box: rattlesnake (secondary consumer)

Step4: Identify Tertiary Consumer

The hawk eats the rattlesnake, so it's the tertiary consumer. Fourth box: hawk (tertiary consumer)

Step5: Identify Apex Predator

The panther eats the hawk, so it's the apex predator. Fifth box: panther (apex predator)

Step6: Identify Decomposer

The burying beetle breaks down the panther, so it's the decomposer. Sixth box: burying beetle (decomposer)

Step1: Identify Producer

Cordgrass is a plant, so it's the producer. First box: cordgrass (producer)

Step2: Identify Primary Consumer

The marsh snail eats cordgrass, so it's the primary consumer. Second box: marsh snail (primary consumer)

Step3: Identify Secondary Consumer

The mud crab eats the marsh snail, so it's the secondary consumer. Third box: mud crab (secondary consumer)

Step4: Identify Tertiary Consumer

The spotted seatrout eats the mud crab, so it's the tertiary consumer. Fourth box: spotted seatrout (tertiary consumer)

Step5: Identify Apex Predator

The osprey eats the spotted seatrout, so it's the apex predator. Fifth box: osprey (apex predator)

Step6: Identify Decomposer

Bacteria breaks down the dead osprey, so it's the decomposer. Sixth box: bacteria (decomposer)

Answer:

1. saw palmetto (producer)
2. box turtle (primary consumer)
3. rattlesnake (secondary consumer)
4. hawk (tertiary consumer)
5. panther (apex predator)
6. burying beetle (decomposer)

For the bacteria - cordgrass example: