Lesson 3 – Who are consumers?
This lesson covers what a consumer is and how they impact the food chain.
Learning activities:
Explain consumers, herbivores, omnivores and carnivores.
Research examples of each type of consumer.
Discuss the impacts of removing consumers from a food web or chain.??
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
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Watch the video
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.
What is meant by 'consumer'?
Slide 3 - Slide
This lesson we are going to take a look at the second level in a food chain and food web. The second level of a food web is called a consumer. Ask students what they think is meant by a ‘consumer’?
Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.
They are stealing from these waters.
A CONSUMER IS
a person or thing that eats something.
Slide 4 - Slide
A consumer is a person or organism that eats something. Consumers get their energy (food) in different ways, but they don’t produce it themselves.
Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.
They are stealing from these waters.
CONSUMERS - HERBIVORES
Herbivores – are an animal that feeds only on plants
Slide 5 - Slide
Primary consumers are species like zooplankton, small fish and crustaceans. There are several types of consumers. Herbivores – are an animal that feeds only on plants. Examples include zooplankton, green sea turtles, manatees and dugongs Ask students if they know any other examples.
Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.
They are stealing from these waters.
CONSUMERS - OMNIVORES
Omnivores – eat both plants and animals
Slide 6 - Slide
The next type of consumer is called an omnivore. Omnivores – eat both plants and animals
Examples include hawksbill sea turtles, dolphins and crabs. Ask students if they know any other examples.
Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.
They are stealing from these waters.
CONSUMERS - CARNIVORES
Carnivores kill and eat other animals.
Slide 7 - Slide
The next type of consumer is called a carnivore. Carnivores kill and eat other animals. Examples include seals and sea lions,
Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.
Why are consumers important to the food chain?
Slide 8 - Slide
Ask students why consumers are important to the food chain? If consumers are removed from the food chain, then the next level in the chain could collapse.