Food Web Files: Exclusive Interviews with Nature’s MVPs

Get ready to meet the overlooked heroes holding ecosystems together, from sun-powered producers to the clean-up crew decomposers. These unsung champions keep the food web running, navigating predators, leftovers, and hilarious mishaps along the way.

It’s Pennewell—your favorite narrator and ecosystem enthusiast. Today, we’re diving into the incredible world of the food web, where every connection matters. Ecosystems are like giant, living puzzles, and the food web is the thread that ties it all together. You’ve got plants working overtime to create matter, animals munching away to keep the flow going, and decomposers cleaning up the leftovers.

But who’s really holding it all together? Spoiler alert: It’s not just the big, flashy predators. It’s time to meet the unsung heroes—the producers, primary consumers, and decomposers—who keep the food web running like a well-oiled machine.

Before We Start Standards Time!

Standards are what students need to know and be able to do. They set the big goals for learning and help make sure everyone gets the key knowledge and skills they need. For today’s lesson, here’s what we’re focusing on:

Here’s the deal: plants are the OG magicians. They mostly grow using air and water, with a sprinkle of soil for good measure.

From there, matter and energy begin their epic cycle:

• Plants the producers grow.
• Primary Consumers chow down on plants.
• Secondary and tertiary consumers snack on those animals and each other.
• Decomposers swoop in, clean up the leftovers, and return the goods to the soil.

It’s nature’s version of recycling—but way cooler.

In food webs, everything’s connected: plants, animals, decomposers, the whole squad. And as energy moves through the food web? Less and less is transfered at every step. That’s how the whole system stays balanced.

A Note from Pennewell:

The following is a transcript from a series of interviews conducted with key members of the food web. As you’ll see, getting straight answers wasn’t always easy—especially when my guests interrupted me. Oh, and fun fact: this was recorded live, so you might notice a few technical hiccups along the way.

Interview #1: Dusty the Decomposer (with Big Grime')

Pennewell: "Alright, I’m here with Dusty the Decomposer and Big Grime. Dusty, tell us—what’s your role in the food web?"

‍Dusty: "We’re Compost guys. We handle the leftovers. And don’t forget—we bring the boom!"

‍Pennewell: "Okay… Compost guys? What does that even mean?"

‍Dusty: "Sure thing, my guy. We’re Compost guys. We break it down into nutrients that plants can use to grow. Without us, ecosystems would just be piles of junk everywhere. We bring the boom every time!"

‍Pennewell: "Why do you keep saying you’re Compost guys? Animals don’t compost."

‍Dusty: "Oh, but they kind of do. Imagine this: a deer finds a double chunk chocolate cookie, gobbles it up, and decides to drop it off on the side of the road after it’s been digested. Now it’s been rained on, baked in the sun for a week, and now it’s our turn. That's the flavor, my guy. And, guess what? We bring the boom!"

‍Pennewell: "Um, did you just try to make animal waste sound appetizing? Umm, what?"

‍Dusty: "Listen, it’s all part of the cycle. We take what’s left—dead plants, animal remains, and yes, even waste—and break it down into nutrients. Those nutrients go back into the soil, feeding plants so they can grow. Without us, producers wouldn’t have what they need to keep the ecosystem running. And, Pennewell, you better believe—we bring the boom."

‍Big Grime: "And we bring the boom every time. We’re out!"

Interview #2: Priscilla the Producer

Pennewell: "Priscilla, thanks for joining us. Can you tell us what it’s like being a producer in the food web?"
‍
Priscilla (flashing a perfect smile): "Oh my chlorophyll, Pennewell, I’m so glad to be here! First, a huge shoutout to my community—the Grow Squad. I don’t even like calling them followers because we’re connected, you know? We’re family. Plants, algae, fungi—we’re all in this together, creating energy and keeping ecosystems thriving."

Pennewell: "Right, so as a producer—"

Priscilla (interrupting): "I’m the foundation of the food web, Pennewell. No big deal. I take sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, and through photosynthesis—BOOM—glucose and oxygen. It’s all about using natural ingredients to create something incredible. Speaking of which, this process is brought to you by Sunlight Supreme, the only energy source you’ll ever need if you’re a producer. #Ad."

Pennewell: "Wait, are you advertising—"

Priscilla (ignoring): "Photosynthesis isn’t just science; it’s an art. My chlorophyll, that green pigment in my leaves, captures sunlight and turns it into chemical energy. It’s the ultimate life hack. Oh, and can I just say? Oxygen is such a flex. I make it as a byproduct. Like, ‘Oops, here’s the thing you need to breathe. You’re welcome.’ #BlessedToBeABlessing."

Pennewell: "Okay, that’s impressive, but—"

‍Priscilla: "Impressive? Pennewell, it’s iconic. Producers like me are the reason herbivores have anything to eat, the reason carnivores have energy, and the reason decomposers stay busy. And can we talk about the 10% Rule? By the time energy reaches the top of the food web, only 10% of what I made is left. That’s like giving someone an entire pizza, and by the time it gets to the apex predator, they’re fighting over crumbs. #Dobetter."

Pennewell: "Right, and what about—"

Priscilla (turning to an imaginary camera): "Quick PSA for my Grow Squad: I just dropped a new merch line! Check out my Sunlight & Water collection—eco-friendly shirts, reusable water bottles, and plant-based snacks. Because we’re all about sustainable energy, just like me!"

Pennewell: "Can we stay focused on—"

Priscilla: "Oh, I am focused. Focused on how herbivores treat me like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Do I complain? No. I just grow back, stronger. Because the food web depends on me, and I never quit. #NoDaysOff."

Pennewell: "So, to summarize—"

Priscilla (leaning in conspiratorially): "Sunlight. Carbon dioxide. Water. Glucose. Oxygen. That’s the formula. I’m not just growing—I’m thriving. And you can too, if you start every day with Chlorophyll Luxe, the drink that powers ecosystems. Available now at all major retailers. #PhotosynthesisFuel."

Pennewell (under his breath): "Her mic wasn’t on, was it?"

Priscilla (gasping): "Are you serious? Ugh, this is why I go live on my own feed. Grow Squad, I’ll explain everything later. #Staygreen!"

Interview #3: Perry the Primary Consumer

Pennewell: "Now we’re chatting with Perry the Primary Consumer. Perry, you’re an herbivore. What’s—" 

Perry (whispering, eyes darting around): "Why are you saying my government name out here on these streets? Are you trying to get me caught?" 

Pennewell: "What? Perry, it’s just an interview—" 

Perry (interrupting): "Just an interview? Oh, sure, Pennewell. Let’s just broadcast to every predator in the food web where I am. Real smart." 

Pennewell: "Okay, let’s take a step back. Can you tell us about your role in the ecosystem?" 

Perry (sighing, looking exasperated): "Fine, but let’s get it straight, okay? I’m a primary consumer. A herbivore. I eat plants—producers. That’s it. I’m not a secondary consumer, not a tertiary consumer, and definitely not an apex predator. Secondary consumers eat me! Tertiary consumers eat them! They’re all carnivores, Pennewell. I’m not a carnivore. I don’t do meat, I don’t do bugs, well I might dabble here and there but mostly just plants. So don’t mix us up." 

Pennewell: "Alright, so—" 

Perry (ignoring): "And do you know how dangerous that makes my job? I’m on the menu for everything. Hawks, wolves, snakes—you name it, they’re after me. My Aunt Thelma? Sweetest deer you’d ever meet. Twig snap—predator—gone. RIP. Moment of silence for Aunt Thelma." 

Pennewell: "That’s... really sad." 

Perry: "Sad? It’s a nightmare! And it’s not just my aunt. My sister’s neighbor’s cousin’s brother? Same story. Everyone’s going down, Pennewell. It’s the end of it all, man!" 

Pennewell: "That sounds stressful, but—" 

Perry (panicking): "Stressful doesn’t even cover it! And don’t think they’re just coming for me during the day—some of these predators hunt at night. I don’t even get to sleep! And the worst part? By the time they eat me, they only get a fraction of the energy I got from the plants. I risk my life for scraps, Pennewell. Scraps!" 

Pennewell: "Okay, Perry, if you could just—" 

Perry (interrupting, rushing): "I can’t! I’ve already said too much. I need to go before someone spots me. This interview is over!"

(Perry bolts, looking over his shoulder as he disappears into the bushes.)