Producers Consumers and Decomposers

1. Producers, Consumers,
and Decomposers
LEARNING TARGETS:
I CAN DRAW A FOOD WEB AND FOOD CHAIN AND LABEL PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS.
I CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF AN HERBIVORE, OMNIVORE, CARNIVORE AND DECOMPOSER.
I CAN DISCUSS HOW ENERGY FLOWS THROUGH A FOOD CHAIN.
I CAN DISCUSS HOW ENERGY FLOWS THROUGH A TROPHIC PYRAMID.

2. What do all living things need to
survive?
ENERGY

3. What is the source of energy for
almost all living things?
The Sun
https://www.goodfreephotos.com/vector-images/cartoon-sun-vector-art.png.php

4. 1. Producers
 These are organisms that use sunlight to make food
 The process in which plants use the sun’s energy to make food is referred
to as Photosynthesis
 Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll
and generates oxygen as a byproduct.
 Producers are also known as Autotrophs

5. Examples of producers
• Algae, Plants such as Grasses and Trees
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APlants_Conservatory.JPG

6. 2. Consumers
 Organisms that rely on other organisms to obtain the energy that they
need to sustain life.
 There are four types of consumers.
 Herbivores
 Carnivores
 Omnivores
 Decomposers

7. Herbivore
 Consume producers as their source of energy
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cow-bw.JPG

8. Carnivore
 Consume other heterotrophs/animals as their source of energy
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_lion_of_the_Serengeti.JPG

9. Omnivore
 Consume both producers and animals as their source of energy
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bear_Alaska_(3).jpg

10. Examples
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Honey bee Shark Raccoon
Deer Eagle Hedgehog
Rabbit Tiger Chicken
Manatee Mongoose Bear

11. Scavengers
 Consume dead organic matter as a source of their energy
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:151_Turkey_Buzzard.jpg

12. Where do humans fit in a food chain?
 Provide students with the article: Between Pigs and Anchovies: Where
Humans Rank in the Food Chain. (Lexile 1070)
 After reading the article students will respond to the following question in
your Bio. Notebook:
 What type of consumer are you?
 What is the importance of having different types of consumers, rather than
having only one type?

13. 3. Decomposers
 Organisms that obtain energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms.
 These organisms can be thought of as Nature’s Recyclers!
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bacteria_photomicrograp
h.jpg

14. Decomposers at Work
 Video Link: https://youtu.be/Z6V0a_7N1Mw

15. Food Chains and Food Webs – The
Flow of Energy
 Introductory video to food web:
http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=0ZOvqYypOu
o

16. Can you identify the producers, consumers,
decomposers and scavengers?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121935927@N06/13578843423

17. Learning Target Check
 In your science notebook answer the following:
 What would happen in an ecosystem if any one of the following groups,
consumers or decomposers, were removed from it?