Food Chains Decomposers

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Components of a Food Chain PRODUCERS SUN 3. CONSUMERS 4. DECOMPOSER

Herbivores are plant-eating consumers Types of Consumers Herbivores are plant-eating consumers

Carnivores are meat-eating consumers Types of Consumers Carnivores are meat-eating consumers

Omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals. Types of Consumers Omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals.

Types of Consumers Scavengers are consumers that eat dead plants or dead animals (carrion)

*Levels of Consumers Primary (1°) Consumers = “first eaters” Secondary (2°) Consumers = “second eaters” Tertiary (3°) Consumers = “third eaters”

Quaternary 4° Consumer Tertiary 3°Consumer Secondary 2°Consumer Primary 1°Consumer

Decomposers

Decomposers Decomposers are organisms that break down the cells of dead material and recycle the nutrients back into the ecosystem

Decomposers Eventually all food chains end in decomposers e.g.-mushrooms, molds, yeast, bacteria

Conditions that Promote Decomposers Warmth Lots of air Lots of food Moisture (water) Darkness

What is the difference between Scavengers and Decomposers? Scavengers eat dead material that they find (they have mouths). E.g. Vulture Decomposers “break down” the cells of dead material. E.g. Mold