Transcript 3.3 PPT
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 H2O
Carbon Dioxide CO2
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