Producers Consumers and Decomposers 3 3 Producers All

Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers 3. 3

Producers �All living things get energy from food �Producers make their own food �They are called Autotrophs �Most are green plants and algae �Make food through photosynthesis

Photosynthesis �In order for photosynthesis to work, the following is needed: ◦ ◦ Source of energy sunlight Water H 2 O Carbon Dioxide CO 2 Chlorophyll a special green pigment, which is a chemical that can absorb certain kids of light �Chlorophyll is stored in special cell structures known as chloroplasts

Producers �Humans and animals rely on producers for more than just food �Oxygen in the atmosphere comes from plants and algae �More than 50% of that oxygen comes from green plants in the ocean

Consumers �Organisms that depend on producers for food �All animals �Cannot make their own food (Heterotrophs) �Three types of consumers ◦ Herbivore ◦ Carnivore ◦ Omnivore

Herbivore �Plant eaters �Feed directly on producers ◦ ◦ ◦ Cows Rabbits Deer Sheep Grasshoppers

Carnivore �Meat eaters �Feed on herbivores or other carnivores �Wolves, eagles, frogs, snakes �Some do not feed on living things, but rather dead animals �Rotting meat is called carrion �Carnivores that feed on carrion are called scavengers (lobsters, vultures, coyotes)

Omnivores �Consumers who eat both plants and animals �Can use many food sources at different times of the year �Humans, bears, pigs, raccoons

Decomposers �Some consumers get their energy by breaking down dead organisms �Without decomposers, dead animal and plant material would build up everywhere �Fungi and bacteria are common

Decomposers �Eat any organic matter �Organic matter, such as fallen leaves and tree trunks, is any material containing carbon that was once alive �Decomposers make sure that matter passed from plants to animals is recycled again

Vocabulary �Biotic �Abiotic �Photosynthesis �Herbivore �Carnivore �Omnivore �Prey �Predator Decomposer Carrion