d) underwater plant 5. a) Draw a food chain using the following organisms in Thandi's garden: cat, grass, locust, bird, decomposer. b) Add three organisms to this food chain to make a food web. c) What is the main source of energy in the food web?

Sure, let's address each part of your question step by step. --- ### **5. a) Drawing a Food Chain in Thandi's Garden** A **food chain** illustrates the flow of energy from one organism to another within an ecosystem. Using the organisms provided—**grass**, **locust**, **bird**, **cat**, and **decomposer**—here’s a simple food chain: 1. **Grass** (Producer) - **Role:** Produces energy through photosynthesis. 2. **Locust** (Primary Consumer/Herbivore) - **Role:** Eats the grass. 3. **Bird** (Secondary Consumer/Carnivore) - **Role:** Feeds on locusts. 4. **Cat** (Tertiary Consumer/Carnivore) - **Role:** Hunts and eats birds. 5. **Decomposer** - **Role:** Breaks down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil. **Food Chain Representation:** ``` Grass → Locust → Bird → Cat → Decomposer ``` --- ### **5. b) Expanding to a Food Web by Adding Three More Organisms** A **food web** is a more complex and realistic representation of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem, showing how various food chains are interconnected. To expand the existing food chain into a food web, we can add the following three organisms: 1. **Earthworm** - **Role:** Feeds on decomposed matter and helps in breaking down organic material, enhancing soil fertility. - **Interaction:** Connects with decomposers and plants. 2. **Spider** - **Role:** Predates on insects like locusts. - **Interaction:** Adds another predator to the locust population. 3. **Bees** - **Role:** Pollinate plants like grass and other flowering plants in the garden. - **Interaction:** Support plant growth, which in turn supports herbivores like locusts. **Expanded Food Web Representation:** ``` Sun │ Grass → Locust → Bird → Cat → Decomposer │ ↑ │ └→ Bees ───┘ Spider ↖ Earthworm ``` **Explanation of Interconnections:** - **Sun:** The primary source of energy, enabling grass to perform photosynthesis. - **Grass:** Provides food for locusts and is pollinated by bees. - **Locust:** Preyed upon by both birds and spiders. - **Bird:** Eaten by cats. - **Spider:** Adds another layer of predation by feeding on locusts. - **Bees:** Support plant health through pollination, indirectly supporting the entire food web. - **Earthworm:** Enhances soil fertility through decomposition, supporting plant growth. - **Decomposer:** Breaks down dead organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. --- ### **5. c) Main Source of Energy in the Food Web** The **main source of energy** in the food web is the **Sun**. **Explanation:** - **Sunlight** is harnessed by producers like **grass** through the process of **photosynthesis**, converting solar energy into chemical energy stored in plant tissues. - This energy is then transferred through various trophic levels—from herbivores (like locusts) to carnivores (like birds and cats) and decomposers. - Without the Sun, the foundational energy input required to sustain the entire ecosystem would be absent. --- ### **Summary Diagram of the Food Web** While I can't provide a visual diagram, here's a textual representation to help visualize the connections: ``` Sun │ Grass ───→ Bees │ │ Locust ←─ Spider │ │ Bird ─── Cat │ Decomposer ←→ Earthworm ``` - **Sun** powers **Grass**. - **Grass** supports **Bees** and **Locusts**. - **Bees** aid in pollination, benefiting **Grass**. - **Locusts** are preyed upon by **Birds** and **Spiders**. - **Birds** are hunted by **Cats**. - **Decomposers** and **Earthworms** recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. This interconnected web illustrates the complexity and interdependence of organisms within Thandi's garden ecosystem. --- Feel free to ask if you need further clarification or additional information!