>> PRESENTATION OF SCIENCE TREK
ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS

MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA

MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING

THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

>> THE FLOW OF THE SUN'S ENERGY
TOUCHES ALL THIFERG THINGS ON

EARTH.

BUT HOW ARE PLANTS AND PEOPLE
CONNECTED?

AY TUNED AND WE'LL ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FOOD WEB.

SCIENCE TREK IS NEXT.

>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN
AND WELCOME TO SCIENCE TREK, AND

WELCOME TO ZOO BOISE.

WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FOOD WEB,

BUT BEFORE WE DO, LET'S LEARN A
BIT MORE.

>> HEY, KIDS.

>> WHAT?

>> DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE THE TALK
OF THE FOOD CHAIN?

>> HUH?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, TOP DOG.

>> NUMERAL UNO.

THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

>> WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM?

>> FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK.

THE FOOD CHAINS DON'T START AT
THE TOP, THEY BEGIN IF -- AT THE

BOTTOM.

NO, NOT THAT BOTTOM, THEY BEGIN
HERE.

SUNLIGHT IS ENERGY.

AND ENERGY IS WHAT ALL LIVING
THINGS NEED TO SURVIVE.

SO, THE FOOD CHAIN IS HOW ENERGY
MOVES THROUGH NATURE.

BASKING IN THE SUN IS HOW PLANTS
CONVERT ENERGY INTO FOOD, AND

LOTS OF ANIMALS EAT PLANTS, EVEN
YOU.

SO WHEN ANIMAL EATS PLANTS, THAT
ENERGY MOVES FROM THE PLANT TO

THE ANIMAL.

AND WHEN THAT ANIMAL GETS EATEN
BY ANOTHER ANIMAL, THE ENERGY

MOVES AGAIN.

EVEN A DEAD ANIMAL STILL PASSES
ENERGY.

DEAD SALMON, ANYONE?

INSECTS AND OTHER CREEPY
CRAWLERS WILL FEED ON A FISH,,

CARCASS, AND SO ON.

ALSO, HOW MANY OF YOU USE
FERTILIZER IN YOUR GARDEN?

BAT POOP IS THE BEST FERTILIZER
AROUND.

IT'S MOSTLY INSECT PARTS.

THINK ABOUT OTHER FERTILIZER
LIKE COW MANURE.

IT'S REALLY JUST A PLANT, SO
FERTILIZERS HELP PLANTS TO GROW.

THE PLANTS THEN CONVERT ENERGY
FROM THE SUN INTO FOOD BY USING

PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

THIS MAKES PLANTS PRODUCERS.

THE ANIMAL THAT EATS THE PLANT
IS CALLED THE CONSUMER.

A TREE LIKE THIS THAT PRODUCES A
CORN, IS A PRODUCER.

THE SQUIRREL EATING THE A COR
IS THE PRIMARY CONSUMER, BUT

WATCH OUT, A SECONDARY CONSUMER
LIKE THIS RED TAILED HAWK, MAY

EAT THE SQUIRREL, WHO ATE THE A
CORN.

WELL, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A
HAMBURGER.

>> ACTUALLY, THIS IS A SLOPPY
JOE.

>> OK, WHO IS THE SECONDARY
CONSUMER?

YOU.

THE COW ATE THE GRASS.

AND YOU ARE EATING THE COW.

>> REALLY?

>> BUT JUST LIKE YOU, ANIMALS
DON'T ALWAYS CLEAN UP THEIR

PLATES.

THAT'S WHERE SCAVENGERS COME IN.

SCAVENGERS LIKE THIS VULTURE ARE
NATURE'S CLEANUP CREW, THEY

CLEAN UP THE LEFTOVERS, TAKING
THE ENERGY FROM DEAD ANIMALS FOR

THEMSELVES.

YOU MAY HAVE A SCAVENGER IN YOUR
HOUSE.

>> I DON'T HAVE A WHEELCHAIR IN
MY HOUSE.

>> LET'S SAY YOUR MOM PRODUCES
SOME COOKIES, SHE WOULD BE THE

PRODUCER.

IF SHE GAVE YOU A PLATE FULL OF
OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES --

>> THANKS, MOM.

>> YOU WOULD BE THE PRIMARY
CONSUMER.

>> HEY, WHAT DO YOU CALL THESE
GUYS?

STEALING MY COOKIES.

>> WELL, THEY WOULD BE THE
SECONDARY CONSUMERS.

AND DON'T FORGET, FIDO.

SEE, YOU DO HAVE A SCAVENGER IN
THE HOUSE.

WHAT WE SHOWED IS A FOOD CHAIN.

BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE FOOD
CHAINS GOING ON ALL THE TIME

AROUND YOU.

TAKE SOMETHING COMMON LIKE A
SPIDER.

THIS ONE IS EATING A
GRASSHOPPER.

BUT HOW MANY OTHER ANIMALS WANT
TO EAT THE SPIDER?

BIRDS.

OTHER SPIDERS.

LIZARDS, FROGS, OR TOADS OR
MAMMALS LIKE MICE OR SHREW AND

THINK ABOUT WAIST GOING TO EAT
THOSE ANIMALS, EACH DEAD

ANIMALS, THIS IS HOW FOOD CHAINS
INTERCONNECT AND CREATE A FOOD

WEB.

WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?

AT EACH STEP, YOU CAN BE A
PRIMARY CONSUMER, A SECONDARY

CONSUMER, A SCAVENGER.

AND SOME DAY WHEN YOU ARE REALLY
OLD AND DIE, YOU EVEN GET TO BE

THE PRODUCER.

IT'S THE WEB OF LIFE.

>> AND JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FOOD

WEB, ARE DR. HOLLY HOLMAN, ZOO
BOISE'S VETERINARIAN, AND ADARE

EVANS, WILDLIFE EDUCATOR FOR THE
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND

GAME.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE,
THANKS.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JONAH.

I GO TO BASIN ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS -- WHY -- WHY DO
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE KNOW

THAT WHAT A FOOD CHAIN SAYS IS
ONE ANIMAL EATS SOMETHING ELSE,

WHICH EATS SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH
EATS SOMETHING ELSE, AND IT'S

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT A FOOD CHAIN
BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN IDEA OF

HOW ENERGY FLOWS THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST PICK UP
ENERGY UNLESS YOU ARE A PLANT.

YOU CAN'T TAKE ENERGY FROM THE
SUN AND MAKE IT YOUR OWN.

SO, IT HELPS US TO SEE THE FLOW
OF ENERGY AND NUTRIENTS THROUGH

THE WORLD, REALLY.

NOT ONLY THAT, IF WE KNOW ABOUT
FOOD CHAINS, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN

WE DISCOVER ONE ANIMAL HAS A
VERY STRANGE CHEMICAL IN IT,

THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE IN THERE,
WE CAN SEE WHERE WHERE DID THEY PICK

IT UP, AND MAYBE THROUGH ITS
FOOD, AND THIS IS ONE THING THAT

WE REALIZED WHEN WE SAW THAT
BIRDS, SUCH AS THE FALCON, WERE

GOING DOWN IN POPULATION.

THEY DISCOVERED THAT DDT, A
CHEMICAL THAT THEY WERE PICKING

UP FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, AND
THAT CHEMICAL CAME FROM WHAT

THEY WERE EATING.

IT CAME FROM BIRDS, AND THE
BIRDS PICKED IT UP FROM INSECTS

THAT THEY WERE EATING.

DDT WAS MADE, BUT IT HAD A HUGE
EFFECT ON THE PEREGRINE FALCON.

WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE ANIMAL'S
FOOD CHAIN, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE

KNOWN THAT.

SO FOOD CHAINS ARE IMPORTANT.

IT HELPS US SEE HOW EVERYTHING
IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS CONNECTED.

>> HI, I AM HALENE AND I COME
FROM BASIN ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS IT CALLED
THE FOOD WEB.

>> IT IS CALLED THE FOOD WEB
BECAUSE WHEN YOU INTERCONNECT

THE FOOD CHAINS, THEY MAKE FOR A
SPIDER WEB-LIKE PATTERN.

>> SAMIE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
WHAT ARE DECOMPOSERS?

>> A DECOMPOSER IS A REALLY
SMALL, OFTEN SMALL, AT LEAST,

ANIMAL THAT TAKES, BASICALLY,
ALL THE DEAD STUFF THAT'S LEFT

BEHIND FROM ANOTHER MEAL.

SO, IF WE LOOK AT A DECOMPOSER,
WE ARE LOOKING AT BACTERIA,

FUNGI, AND MOLD, AND THEY TAKE
MAYBE A DEAD FISH, FOR INSTANCE,

THEY EAT ALL OF THE DECOMPOSING
FLESH OF THE DEAD FISH, AND THEY

TURN IT BACK INTO THE LITTLE
MICRONUTRIENTS THAT GO INTO THE

SOIL, SO THEY MAKE ENERGY
AVAILABLE INTO THE SOIL FOR THE

PLANTS TO USE SO THAT THEY CAN
GROW AGAIN.

SO, WITHOUT DECOMPOSERS, WE
REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE A WAY TO

GET DOWN TO THOSE MICRONUTRIENTS
THAT ALL THE PLANTS NEED TO HELP

THEM GROW.

>> HI, I AM JANE, AND I GO TO
GALILEO, AND HOW ARE FOOD CHAINS

AND WEBS DIFFERENT.

>> CHAINS ARE A LINEAR MODEL
SHOWING HOW ENERGY TRANSFERS

BETWEEN ONE ORGANISM TO THE
NEXT.

THE FOOD WEB SHOWS HOW THE
ENERGY IS TRANSFERRED AMONGST

MANY DIFFERENT ORGANISMS, MORE
ON A WEB-LIKE PATTERN.

>> FOOD WEB TALKS ABOUT HOW
DIFFERENT CHAINS ARE CONNECTED.

SO, IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETHING
LIKE A WOLF AND A SALAMANDER,

YOU PROBABLY DON'T THINK THAT
THEY ARE CONNECTED AT ALL.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A FOOD WEB,
WE CAN SEE THAT THEY REALLY ARE

BECAUSE A SALAMANDER IS IN THE
WATER, AND IT MIGHT EAT AQUATIC

INSECTS, THE INSECT MIGHT EAT A
CATTAIL, SO WE GO BACK TO IS A

CATTAIL, AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT A
WOLF, THEY MIGHT EAT MOOSE AND

THEY EAT A CATTAIL.

IF WE LOOK AT A FOOD WEB, IT CAN
SHOW US HOW THINGS WE DON'T

THINK ARE CONNECTED REALLY ARE
THROUGH INDIVIDUAL FOOD CHAINS.

>> BENJAMIN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
WHAT'S AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD

CHAIN FOR THE WHOLE WORLD?

>> THERE'S NOT ONE PARTICULAR
IMAL THAT'S AT THE TOP OF THE

CHAIN IN THE WORLD, BUT THERE
ARE SEVERAL LARGE PREDATORS THAT

WE THINK OF.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK OF LIONS
AND TIGERS AND BEARS AND,

OBVIOUSLY, HUMANS FIT INTO THAT,
AS WELL, SO THERE COULD BE A

WIDE VARIETY OF ANIMALS THAT ARE
SORT OF AT THE TOP OF THEIR FOOD

CHAIN.

>> HI, I AM CHARLES, AND I GO TO
GALILEO, AND MY QUESTION IS --

IS WATER PART OF A FOOD WEB.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A FOOD
WEB, WE DON'T REALLY INCLUDE

WATER, NECESSARILY.

WATER IS FOUND IN LIVING THINGS.

SO, IF YOU CONSIDER IT THAT WAY,
THEN THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES.

BUT, WE DON'T HAVE WATER
STANDING OUT ON ITS OWN.

>> HELLO, I AM C.J.

MY SCHOOL IS [INAUDIBLE]
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS
[INAUDIBLE] ON THE TOP OF THE

FOOD CHAIN.

>> THE GRIZZLY BEAR WOULD BE ONE
OF THE ANIMALS THAT I WOULD

CONSIDER TO BE ON THE TOP OF THE
FOOD CHAIN.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, GRIZZLY
BEARS ARE OMNIVORES SO THEY CAN

EAT PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIAL.

>> WHEN PLANTS AND ANIMALS DIE,
WHICH ORGANISMS HELP TO RETURN

NUTRIENTS TO THE FOOD CHAIN.

>> THE ORGANISMS THAT RETURN
NUTRIENTS TO THE FOOD CHAIN

AFTER ANIMAL DIES, WOULD BE
THINGS LIKE DECOMPOSERS.

BUT THEN, YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK
AT SOMETHING LIKE SCAVENGERS.

SO, A SCAVENGER IS ANIMAL THAT
MIGHT EAT SOMETHING DEAD, LIKE A

MAG PIE OR A WORM.

THEY ARE, ALSO, RETURNING ALL
THOSE NUTRIENTS, REALLY, THROUGH

SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT THINK IS
YOUNGY, WHICH IS THEIR SCAT OR

POOP.

SO IT'S THE SCAVENGERS AND THE
DECOMPOSERS TOGETHER, WHICH HELP

TO BREAK DOWN A DEAD ANIMAL AND
RETURN THE NUTRIENTS TO THE FOOD

CHAIN.

>> FOOD WEB'S SHOW HOW
INTERCONNECTED LIVING THINGS

ARE.

SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE IT TAKES A
MILLION ALGAE TO SUPPORT THE

10,000 HERBIVORES THAT PROVIDE
FOOD FOR 100 TUNA FISH THAT

PROVIDE DINNER FOR ONE PERSON.

>> MY NAME IS AUDREY, AND I GO
TO GALILEO, AND MY QUESTION IS,

DO ANIMALS EAT LOTS OF DIFFERENT
KINDS OF ANIMALS.

>> OH, YES.

ANIMALS TRY TO EAT ALL DIFFERENT
KINDS OF ANIMALS, AND THAT'S

BECAUSE THE FOOD THEY EAT, JUST
LIKE YOU AND I, LEADS TO

PROTEINS THAT WE BREAK DOWN INTO
OUR BODIES, AND MINERALS,

VITAMINS, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE
NEED TO LIVE, WE HAVE TO GET IT

FROM DIFFERENT FOODS, AND SO DO
OTHER ANIMALS.

>> HARRISON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
ARE THERE KEYSTONE ANIMALS IN

THE FOOD WEB?

>> YES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A
KEYSTONE ANIMAL, WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT AN ANIMAL THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HOLDS THE

WHOLE ENVIRONMENT TOGETHER.

AND IN IDAHO, IF WE HAD TO PICK
A KEYSTONE ANIMAL, FOR OUR

FOREST, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A
SALMON.

NOW, I KNOW YOU ARE PROBABLY
GOING, SALMON?

HOW IS THAT A KEYSTONE SPECIES?

THAT'S JUST A FISH.

WELL, SALMON ARE SO IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY

TRAVEL.

OUR SALMON GO TO THE PACIFIC
OCEAN, AND IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN,

IT'S LIKE A GIANT GROCERY STORE.

THEY EAT TONS AND TONS OF ZOE
PLANKTON.

THEY FILL UP ON KRILL AND COME
BACK TO IDAHO, AND WHEN THEY

COME BACK, THEY BRING ALL THOSE
NUTRIENTS BACK WITH THEM.

AND THE SALMON IS SO IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THEY FEED SO MANY OTHER

ANIMALS.

WHEN THEY COME BACK TO IDAHO,
IT'S NOT ONLY US THAT THEY MIGHT

BE FEEDING.

IT'S OTTERS.

IT'S MUSKRATS.

IT'S BEARS.

IT'S OTHER FISH.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN A RACOON
OR SOMETHING HAPPENS TO FIND A

DEAD FISH, LIKE A SALMON, THEY
TAKE THAT SALMON AND DRAG IT UP

ONTO THE SHORE, AND THEN ALL OF
THOSE NUTRIENTS THAT THE SALMON

BROUGHT BACK FROM THE OCEAN, THE
TREES USE ON-SHORE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE CAN SEE
FROM TREE RINGS ALL THE NICE

GROWTH RINGS THAT WE KIND OF CUT
A TREE IN HALF, THEY ARE THICKER

ON GOOD SALMON YEARS.

WHEN WE HAVE MORE SALMON IN
IDAHO, IT, ACTUALLY, MAKES OUR

FORESTS HEALTHIER, AND THEY GROW
BIGGER, THE TREES GROW BIGGER.

WE CAN SEE THAT.

AND SO, SALMON TO ME WOULD BE A
KEYSTONE SPECIES BECAUSE WHAT

THEIR BODIES PROVIDE, THE
NUTRIENTS THAT THEY PROVIDE,

HELP TO FEED SO MANY OTHER FOOD
CHAINS AND SO MANY OTHER ANIMALS

AND PLANTS.

>> HELLO, I AM LANCE.

I AM AT BASIN ELEMENTARY.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
FOOD WEB IS, CAN THE TOP

CONSUMER BE KILLED BY THE LOWER
CONSUMERS?

>> YES.

THEY DEFINITELY CAN.

THE LOWER CONSUMERS CAN BE
THINGS LIKE BACTERIA OR VIRUSES,

WHICH COULD CAUSE ANIMAL HIGHER
ON THE FOOD CHAIN TO BECOME ILL.

IN THE WILD, IF THEY DON'T HAVE
A VETERINARIAN THAT CAN TAKE

CARE OF THEM, THAT COULD BE A
PROBLEM, AND THEY MAY SUCCUMB TO

THE ILLNEES.

>> RONNIE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
CAN ANIMAL BE EATEN BY A PLANT?

>> OH, YES.

THIS IS SO COOL.

IN IDAHO, WE HAVE TWO PLANTS,
AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT

THEM.

THEY ARE CARNIVOROUS PLANS, THEY
ARE SUN-DOER AND IS BLATTER

WARTS.

COOL NAME, THEY LIVE IN BOGS,
WHICH ARE SPECIAL TYPES OF

WETLANDS.

THEY LIVE IN AREAS WHERE THERE
IS A LOT OF ACID IN THE SOIL.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT
OF ACID IN THE SOIL, IT MAKES IT

REALLY HARD FOR PLANTS TO GET
THE NITROGEN THAT THEY NEED.

SO, THESE PARTICULAR PLANTS ARE
KIND OF LIKE A VENUS FLY TRAP,

BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE CLOSED
CLAM SHELL, THEY HAVE LONG

LITTLE SPINDLIES THAT LOOK LIKE
FINGERS THAT COME OUT, AND WHEN

A PLANT LIKE A FLY LANDS ON THE
LITTLE SPINDLIES, THEY CURL UP

LIKE YOUR FINGERS.

THAT'S HOW THEY CAPTURE FLIES
AND OTHER THINGS, AND SO BY

ABSORBING THE ENERGY AND THE
NITROGEN FROM THE INSECTS THAT

LAND ON THEM, THE BLADDERWORTS
AND THE SUN-DOERS ARE ABLE TO

GET THE NITROGEN THEY NEED TO
SURVIVE.

THEY ONLY, THOUGH, NEED TO HAVE
THE ANIMALS.

THEY NOT ONLY NEED TO HAVE THE
INSECTS, THEY ALSO STILL NEED

THE SUN.

SO, THEY STILL ARE ABLE TO MAKE
SOME ENERGY THROUGH PHOTO

SYNTHESIS, BUT THEY NEED THE
ANIMALS TO GET THE NITROGEN TO

MAKE THEM HEALTHY.

>> I AM HANNAH.

AND I AM -- I GO TO BASIN
ELEMENTARY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO

KNOW WHAT [INAUDIBLE] EAT.

>> SNOWSHOE HEIRS EAT A LOT OF
PLANT MATERIALS, SO ANY GRASSES,

BUSHES, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL
FEED ON TREES.

>> COLIN ASKS, WHY CAN'T LIONS
AND TIGERS EAT PLANTS?

>> WELL, LIONS AND TIGERS CAN
EAT PLANTS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE

A DIGESTIVE SYSTEM THAT IS
EQUIPPED TO HANDLE PLANT

MATERIAL.

SO, MOST HERBIVORES HAVE A LARGE
COMPLEX G.I. TRACK THAT WILL,

ACTUALLY, HELP THEM TO BREAK
DOWN CELLULOSE, WHICH IS

PROBABLY THE MAIN COMPONENT OF
GRASSES AND OTHER PLANT

MATERIALS, AND IT'S JUST ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF

ANIMAL TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST THAT
PRODUCT.

SO, LIONS AND TIGERS, IF THEY
ATE GRASS, WOULD PROBABLY JUST

PASS RIGHT THROUGH THEM.

AVERY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT
OTHER SCAVENGERS ARE THERE

THAT'S NOT A TURKEY VULTURE?

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
SCAVENGERS, A BEAR IS A

SCAVENGER.

AND GRIZZLY BEARS IN YELLOWSTONE
PARK EAT A LOT OF DEAD BISON AND

ELK THEY FIND, AND SOMETHING AS
TINY AS A CHICKADEE, WHICH IS A

TINY BIRD LIKE THIS BIG, THEY
ARE EATING SUNFLOWER SEEDS OUT

OF YOUR FEEDER AT HOME, BUT IF
THEY FIND A DEAD POLITICAL THEY

WILL PICK THE FAT OFF, AND WE
HAVE WEASELS, JUST ABOUT

ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF,
COULD EAT A DEAD ANIMAL.

FOODS HARD TO FIND SOMETIMES,
AND IF YOU ARE ANIMAL LIKE A

COYOTE, YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK
YOUR LIFE TRYING TO GO AFTER

ANIMAL THAT'S GOING TO BITE YOU
OR SCRATCH YOU OR KICK YOU IN

THE HEAD.

SO, IF YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING
DEAD, ALWAYS THE FIRST CHOICE.

>> PREDATORS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN
THE FOOD WEB.

DON'T FEEL TOO SORRY FOR PREY
ANIMALS.

PREY ANIMALS HAVE FIGURED OUT
LOTS OF WAYS TO PROTECT

THEMSELVES.

>> ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIG HORN SAYS
USE PROTECTIVE COLORING OR

CAMOUFLAGE TO HIDE FROM
PREDATORS.

THEIR PALE COLOR MAKES THE SHEEP
DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE BRIGHT

DESERT SURROUNDINGS.

TEST YOURSELF, HOW MANY SHEEP DO
YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE?

EVEN AS THE CAMERA CLOSES IN,
UNTIL THEY MOVE, THE BIG HORNS

ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE.

OTHER PREY ANIMALS LIKE
PORCUPINES HAVE CLEVER DEFENSES.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH A
PORCUPINE, YOU KNOW, IT HURTS.

MANY LARGE PREY ANIMALS LIKE
ANTELOPE, DEER, AND ELK RELY ON

SPEED, AND THEY ALSO HAVE
EXCELLENT HEARING TO HELP THEM

DETECT AND ATTACK.

HERE'S ONE MORE ADAPTATION THAT
HELPS MANY PREY ANIMALS.

SEE HOW THE EYES ON THIS ELK ARE
POSITIONED?

WIDE APART ON THE SIDE OF THE
HEAD.

THAT GIVES AN ELK A WIDE RANGE
OF VISION TO HELP SPOT AN

APPROACHING PREDATOR.

BUT PREY ANIMALS ARE NOT THE
ONLY ONES WITH SPECIAL TRICKS.

PREDATORS HAVE NIQUEY WAYS OF
GETTING WHAT THEY WANT.

MOST PREDATORS HAVE BINOCULAR
VISION.

THAT MEANS THEIR EYES ARE SET
CLOSE TOGETHER SO THEY CAN LOOK

STRAIGHT AHEAD AND SEE OVER
GREAT DISTANCES.

BINOCULAR VISION HELPS PREDATORS
LIKE THIS WOLF SPOT ITS PREY.

SOME PREDATORS USE EXPLOSIVE
BURSTS OF SPEED TO CHASE THEIR

VICTIMS SO THEY CAN RUN, SWIM,
OR FLY FASTER THAN THE PREY.

OTHER PREDATORS, LIKE THIS
COYOTE, WAIT QUIETLY AND THEN

SUDDENLY AMBUSH AN UNSUSPECTING
ANIMAL.

HERE'S A PREDATOR THAT WILL
SCARE ALMOST ANYONE, A SNAKE.

THIS BOA CONSTRICTEDDER USES
SITS ENTIRE BODY TO KILL PREY.

THEY WRAP THEMSELVES AROUND A
RAT AND SQUEEZES UNTIL THE RAT

IS DEAD.

THE SNAKE GOES ABOUT THE SLOW
PROCESS OF SWALLOWING ITS

DINNER.

AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
OF THE MORE OBVIOUS PREDATORS

OUT THERE.

BUT, PREDATORS ARE EVERYWHERE.

SOME OF THEM IN PLACES YOU MIGHT
NEVER SUSPECT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT MANY BIRDS ARE
ALSO PREDATORS?

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY, TOO, EAT
OTHER ANIMALS.

CHECK OUT THIS BLUE HERON.

HE'S EATING A RAINBOW TROUT.

ARE HIS EYES BIGGER THAN HIS
STOMACH, OR WHAT?

ALL IN ALL, PREDATORS ARE PRETTY
CLEVER CREATURES, AND PREY

ANIMALS ARE AWFULLY SMART, TOO.

AND EVEN THOUGH PREDATORS CHASE
PREY, AND PREY ARE ALWAYS TRYING

TO TRICK PREDATORS, THE TWO ARE
NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CL ENEMIES.

IT'S MORE LIKE THEY ARE EACH
TRYING TO OUTSMART THE OTHER

WHILE LIVING OUT THEIR SPECIFIC
ROLES IN NATURE.

IN FACT, PREDATORS AND PREY
DEPEND ON EACH OTHER IN WAYS YOU

MIGHT NEVER EXPECT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN A POPULATION
OF PREY ANIMALS SUFFER, THE

PREDATOR OF THAT ANIMAL WILL
SUFFER, TOO.

DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY TEN
YEARS, THE POPULATION OF

JACKRABBITS NATURALLY DROPS OFF.

BOBCATS RELY ON JACKRABBITS FOR
FOOD.

WHAT WILL THE BOBCATS DO?

WITH FEWER JACKRABBITS TO EAT,
MANY BOBCATS WILL STARVE TO

DEATH.

IN THIS WAY, THE POPULATION OF
PREY ANIMALS CONTROL THE

POPULATIONS OF PREDATORS.

SO, NEXT TIME YOU SEE A PREDATOR
IN THE WILD, DON'T THINK IT'S

MEAN, JUST BECAUSE IT EATS OTHER
ANIMALS.

PREDATORS ARE DOING JUST WHAT
NATURE INTENDED.

>> HI, I AM PAGE, AND I AM FROM
BASIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY LINKS
CAN THERE BE ON THE FOOD WEBS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR YOU
WANT TO GO BACK?

WE CAN HAVE, STARTING WITH THE
SUN, AND THEN HAVE A PLANT, USE

THAT SUN TO MAKE ENERGY, AND WE
HAVE AN HERBIVORE, WHICH COULD

EAT AT LIKE A RABBIT, AND THEN
WE HAVE CONSUMERS, OF THE

RABBIT, AND SO WE HAVE ALL KINDS
OF LINKS.

WE COULD GO ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO
SEVEN LINKS, DEPENDING ON HOW

MANY ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE EAT
ANOTHER ANIMAL.

>> HI, I AM ELLA, I GO TO
GALILEO, AND MY QUESTION IS,

WHERE DOES THE FOOD WEB START?

>> WELL, ALL FOOD WEBS HAVE TO
START WITH A SOURCE OF ENERGY.

AND SO, WHEN WE THINK OF THAT,
WE THINK OF THE SUN, BECAUSE THE

SUN IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF ENERGY
WHEN WE THINK OF OUR PLANET, AT

LEAST ON THE SURFACE.

AND SO, PLANTS MAKE THEIR SUGAR
ENERGY FROM THE SUN, THROUGH

PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK OF FOOD
CHAINS STARTING FROM A, A SOURCE

OF ENERGY.

FROM THE SURFACE OF THE WORLD,
THE SUN, IF WE THINK OF PLACES

LIKE THE DEEP OCEANS, WHERE NO
SUN CAN REACH, WE HAVE TO THINK

OF STARTING, ACTUALLY, WITH KIND
OF AN INTERESTING THING, WHICH

ARE DEEP SEA VENTS.

THEY REALLY DEEPEN THE OCEAN,
RELEASE ALL KINDS OF MINERALS

AND CHEMICALS, AND THERE IS THIS
LITTLE TINY BACTERIA THAT LIVE

AMONG THOSE DEEP SEA VENTS, AND
THEY CAN USE THE CHEMICALS

COMING OUT OF THE VENTS TO,
ACTUALLY, MAKE THEIR FIRST

SOURCE OF ENERGY, DEEP, DEEP IN
THE OCEAN.

IS A, I ALWAYS THINK OF IT
COMING FROM A SOURCE OF ENERGY,

SO FOR ME, IT WILL BE THE SUN OR
THE REALLY DEEP SEA VENTS, THAT

THE BACTERIA USE.

>> WHAT IS A MICROBE?

>> A MICROBE IS A REALLY SMALL
LIVING BEING, THAT USUALLY WOULD

BE LIKE A BACTERIA, FUNGI,
VIRUS, AND SO WE THINK OF THEM

BEING SUPER, SUPER TINY, WHICH
IS WHY THEY ARE CALLED MICRO,

WHICH IS MICROORGANISM.

>> I GO TO GALILEO, AND MY
QUESTION IS -- DOES A FOOD CHAIN

ONLY HAVE FOOD IN IT?

>> DOES A FOOD CHAIN ONLY HAVE
FOOD IN IT?

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU THINK OF
AS FOOD, I THINK.

IF YOU ARE A BACTERIA, AND YOU
ARE GOING TO USE SOME SORT OF A

MINERAL AS YOUR FOOD, THAT'S
GREAT FOR A BACTERIA, BUT MAYBE

NOT FOR A HUMAN BEING.

SO, I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON
WHAT THE ANIMAL THINKS, FOR US

WE WOULD THINK OF FOOD AS BEING
A STRAWBERRY OR MAYBE A PIECE OF

CHICKEN.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY THINKF
EATING AN INDIVIDUAL MINERAL,

BUT FOR SOME, CERTAIN CREATURES
LIKE A BACTERIA, THAT WOULD BE

THE CASE.

>> GUNNER ASKS WHY ARE PREDATORS
AT THE TOP OF THE WEB?

>> PREDATORS WOULD BE AT THE TOP
OF THE FOOD WEB BECAUSE THEY ARE

THE ONES WHO ULTIMATELY EAT THE
OTHER ANIMALS, AND RETURN THE

ENERGY BACK TO THE SOIL BY
POOPING.

>> I AM HALEY, AND I GO TO
GALILEO STANLEY ACADEMY, AND MY

QUESTION IS, DOES A FOOD WEB
INCLUDE ALL ANIMALS?

>> EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD IS
INTERCONNECTED.

AND SO IF YOU THINK OF IT THAT
WAY, THEN THE ANSWER WOULD BE

YES.

EVERYTHING, IF YOU LOOK AT
EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD,

ISSUE THAT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO
THINK IN THAT WAY, BUT IN MY

MINE, EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE TO
BE CONNECTED IN ONE WAY OR

ANOTHER BECAUSE WHERE DO WE ALL
GET OUR ENERGY SOURCE ON THE

PLANET?

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S THE SUN.

AND THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING
STARTS.

>> MADDIE ASKS, WHAT ANIMAL IS
THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN, AND

WHAT ANIMAL IS ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE CHAIN?

>> IT REALLY WOULD DEPEND ON
WHAT CHAIN YOU ARE LOOKING AT.

WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE TOP
PREDATORS BEING AT THE TOP

BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST LIKELY
TO EAT OTHER ANIMALS AND NOT BE

EATEN BY ANOTHER ANIMAL.

WHO IS ON THE BOTTOM, AGAIN,
DEPENDS ON WHO IS ON THE TOP, I

SUPPOSE.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT, AS
SIMPLE AS PLANTS.

IT COULD BE ANOTHER SMALL
CREATURE.

IT'S HARD TO TELL, UNLESS YOU
KNOW WHAT FOOD CHAIN YOU ARE

LOOKING AT.

>> HALEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW
DOES ENERGY PASS FROM ONE ANIMAL

TO ANOTHER?

>> SO, ENERGY PASSES FROM ONE
ANIMAL TO ANOTHER ANIMAL WHEN

THEY EAT SOMETHING.

WHEN YOU EAT SOMETHING, YOUR
BODY HAS TO BREAK ALL OF THAT,

WHETHER IT'S A PLANT OR ANIMAL,
DOWN INTO THIS LITTLE INDIVIDUAL

COMPONENT.

AND THEN YOUR BODY USES THAT TO
MAKE YOUR -- TO MAKE CELLS IN

YOUR BODY AND TO RUN YOUR BODY,
TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED

TO DO.

SO, THAT'S HOW ENERGY PASSES
ALONG.

UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY TIME THAT
ENERGY IS PASSED, WE LOSE A

LITTLE BIT OF THE ENERGY BECAUSE
WE, UNFORTUNATELY, NEED ENERGY

TO MAKE ENERGY, AND I KNOW THAT
SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT WHEN ANIMAL

EATS A PLANT, IT GETS MORE
ENERGY FROM THAT PLANT, THAN

WHEN THE COW EATS THE PLANT.

AND WHEN WE EAT THE COW, EVEN
LESS ENERGY COMES UP THE FOOD

CHAIN.

SO, AT EACH POINT, WE LOSE A BIT
OF ENERGY.

>> BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME,
LET ME ASK, WHY DID YOU DECIDE

TO BECOME A VET?

>> WELL, I STARTED OFF LOVING
SPACE AND WANTED TO BE AN

ASTRONAUT AS A YOUNG CHILD, BUT
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I FELL

IN LOVE WITH ANIMALS, SO I HAVE
DEDICATED MY LIFE AND MY CAREER

TO HELPING ANIMALS, AND THAT'S
HOW I BECAME A VET.

>> ADARE, IF SOMEONE IS
INTERESTED IN GETTING A JOB IN

THIS FIELD, WHAT SHALL HE OR SHE
STUDY IN SCHOOL?

>> MATH AND SCIENCE.

MATH AND SCIENCE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY
LOVE MATH.

BUT MATH IS SUPER IMPORTANT
BECAUSE EVERYTHING INVOLVES A

BIT OF MATH.

SO, STUDY HARD.

READ BOOKS.

LEARN MATH.

READ ALL YOU CAN ABOUT SCIENCE
AND MATH AND SCIENCE IS THE WAY

TO GO.

>> I'M SORRY, WE HAVE RUN OUT.

TIME.

THANK YOU, HOLLY ADARE, FOR
ANSWERING THE STUDENTS'

QUESTIONS.

>> IT WAS GREAT FUN.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR
ONE OF OUR FUTURE SHOWS, YOU CAN

EMAIL IT OR SEND US A VIDEO
QUESTION.

RECORD IT ON YOUR CELL PHONE,
TABLET OR WEB CAM.

AND IF YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR, WE
WILL LEND YOU A CAMERA.

IF YOU SEND IN A QUESTION, YOU
AND YOUR CLASS CAN WIN PRIZES.

OUR LAST PRIZE WINNER WAS
MCKAYLAIN AT HAWTHNE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE TOPICS, GO
TO THE FOOD WEB SECTION OF

SCIENCE TREK, AND FIND LESSON
PLANS AND MORE, OR WATCHING

SCIENCE TREK: THE WEB AND CHECK
OUT MY BLOG FOR THE LATEST

SCIENCE NEWS FOR KIDS.

FIND IT ALL AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK.

THAT I THINK SO FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
SCIENCE TREK.

>> PRESENTATION OF SCIENCE TREK
ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS

MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA

MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.

COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING

THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THIS TOPIC OR WATCH OUVIDEOS,

CHECK OUT THE SCIENCE TREK
WEBSITE AT