. Biology; the story of living things. THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF (; TIIIN(JS :,i It will be noted in the illustrations given that animals almost mvanably feed upon others smaller than themselves. The same relationship is seen in lakes or oceans where microscopic plants and animals (plankton) form the food of other larger organisms, especially fish. These living things form definite "food chains" in which larger animals feed on smaller and smaller ones until ultimately the lowest forms subsist on tiny green plants or bacteria. For example, in a small pond we may find billions of di
. Biology; the story of living things. THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF (; TIIIN(JS :,i It will be noted in the illustrations given that animals almost mvanably feed upon others smaller than themselves. The same relationship is seen in lakes or oceans where microscopic plants and animals (plankton) form the food of other larger organisms, especially fish. These living things form definite "food chains" in which larger animals feed on smaller and smaller ones until ultimately the lowest forms subsist on tiny green plants or bacteria. For example, in a small pond we may find billions of diatoms, unicellular algae, and protozoa and feed- ing on them millions of small crustaceans. With them are thousands of insect larvae, hundreds of small fish, and a few large fish, such as bass, pickerel, or perch, which are dependent upon all the other forms of life. In this case a few large animals are depend- ent for food upon the development of myriads of smaller organisms, the basis of this food being very simple plants. Take away any link in the food chain and life in the pond becomes disorganized, with the ensuing death of many of the inhabitants. Since smaller animals reproduce more rapidly than larger ones, the food supply for those "on the top of the heap" remains fairly constant. It should be borne in mind, however, that the larger animals require a range of sufficient size to support them. Adaptations for Food-getting in Animals Protozoans, if ameboid, engulf their food, but in other members of this group, food passes into the cell through a definite opening or through the plasma membrane. Sponges and many molluscs pick up microscopic food as it comes to them in water currents. Some molluscs bore holes through the hard shells of bivalves, in that way securing the soft parts of the animal for food. Insects have biting, chewing, or sucking mouthparts, each type being fitted to utilize a. drassViopptrs- ° Gat gi-ass \\ hy will a break in the food chain often
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwalterherberteugeneb1867, bookcentury1900, bookpublish
