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