The most important plant in the world may be the one growing underneath our feet. Grass is essential to the survival of many species, from the herbivorous insects that eat it, to carnivorous top predators. Grass makes many habitats possible.

The Food Web

The food web is a concept and a diagram that depicts the consumer relationship between all organisms in a given habitat; essentially, who eats whom.

Relationships in the Food Web

Generally, organisms are classified into one of several groups. The producers, fed on by herbivorous or omnivorous primary consumers, are eaten by mostly carnivorous secondary consumers. Carcasses of secondary consumers are used by decomposers, which create food for the producers. It's not always a linear relationship, as many organisms have several predators on different levels.

Role of Grass in the Food Web

Grass plays the role of producer in the food web. Grasses support a variety of habitats, from prairie to forest to marshland. Grasses also provide a food source to herbivores.

What do Producers do?

Producers are the foundational organisms of a habitat that use sunlight and soil to produce nutrition for the primary consumers. Plants--grass, trees, shrubs--are producers.

How do Secondary Consumers Rely on Grass?

Without the continued survival of the primary consumers, secondary consumers lose their food source and starve.

Source:

Grass

Food Web

More Information:

A Child Said, What is the Grass? A poem by Walt Whitman