1. Photosynthesis: Plants capture energy from sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugar) and oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis. The glucose is the plant's primary source of energy.
2. Herbivores: Animals like ants and termites are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. When they consume plants, they ingest the glucose stored within.
3. Anteaters: Anteaters are insectivores, meaning they eat insects. They get their energy by consuming ants and termites.
4. Energy Transfer: The ants and termites have already consumed the glucose from the plants. When the anteater eats these insects, it consumes the energy that was originally captured by the plants during photosynthesis.
In summary:
* Sunlight provides energy to plants for photosynthesis.
* Plants store energy as glucose.
* Insects (ants and termites) consume plants and obtain glucose.
* Anteaters eat the insects and obtain the energy originally captured by the plants.
It's important to note:
* Energy is lost at each step in the food chain due to processes like respiration and heat loss.
* The anteater does not directly get energy from plants, but from the insects that have already consumed the plants.