Producers Consumers It all start with Plants Types

Producers & Consumers, It all start with Plants!

Types of consumers are n There are Three types of Consumers ¨ Carnivores. ¨ Herbivores. ¨ Omnivores. Its all about what you eat! n Vore = vorax = to swallow or to eat. n

1 -Herbivores: An animal that eats only plants & other producers. ( first-level consumers).

Herbivores: ( herbi = plant or vegetation)

2 -Carnivores: n Is an animal that eats mainly other animals. n It’s also called “ second-level” consumer.

2 -Carnivores: carni = meat

3 -Omnivores: eat both meat (animals) and plants.

3 -Omnivores: omni = all

In an Ecosystem: When a grasshopper eats grass, then its eaten by a snake, then the snake is eaten by a large carnivore such as hawk ( 3 rd -level consumer). n Each time something eats something else, food energy is transferred from 1 organism to the next. n We can arrange this story & energy transfer in what is called a food chain. n

How they relate.

What is a food chain ?

A is the transfer of energy between organisms in an ecosystem. n It shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some animals eat other animals. n Who eats Who ( only one path). n

What is in a “food chain” ? Producers. Consumers. Decomposers.

Decomposers: When animals & plants die, What happens to the food energy stored in their remains? n The remains are broken down & food energy is used by decomposers. n So, What is a decomposer? ? n De= to do the opposite or to “undo”. n Compose= to put together. n

Decomposer ? ? n Decomposer is a consumer that gets its food energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms ( plants & animals).

Decomposers n n n Decomposers use some of the nutrients as food. The rest become mixed into the soil. Then plant roots can take up these nutrients. Examples: ¨ Earth Worms. ¨ Fungi. ¨ Single celled organisms ( protist or

Decomposers: decomposers are recyclers.

How they relate? ? . n Decomposers connect both ends of the food chain.

Let’s Look at a Food chain

Food Webs n n A food web is a diagram that shows the relationship between different food chains in an ecosystem. Who eats who ? ? ( many paths ).

Food Webs n Because most animals eat more than 1 kind of food , a food web is a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships between organisms living in an ecosystem.

What are the differences between food webs and food chains?

A food web is actually several food chains joined together.

Food Webs n A food web is also Who eats Who but showing many paths.