The Organisms of an Ecosystem

ALL LIVING THINGS NEED Energy TO SURVIVE

is the main source of energy for all living things SUNLIGHT is the main source of energy for all living things

Ecosystem An ecosystem is all the living and non living things in an area. Living or Biotic Things: Plants, Animals, Bacteria Non Living or Abiotic Things: Sunlight, water, soil, rocks, and air

We normally classify organisms into 3 categories: Producers Consumers Decomposers They all depend on each other. An organism can also be classified as a: Scavenger

Producers Are… Producers get their energy from the sun to make their own food (PLANTS) They make their food through a process called photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis (part 1) In this process, plants take in a gas called carbon dioxide through their leaves. Plants also take in water from the soil through their roots When sunlight falls on their leaves, plants use the energy in the sunlight to change the carbon dioxide and water into oxygen gas and sugar

Photosynthesis (part 2) The sugar is stored energy or food Plants give off the oxygen through their leave into the air as waste

Consumers Consumers need to eat their food to get energy. (ANIMALS)

There are THREE types of Consumers Carnivores Herbivores Omnivores

Carnivores only eat meat (other animals) carne means meat

Herbivores eat only plants. THINK OF HERBS, PLANTS YOU COOK WITH

Omnivores eat both meat (animals) and plants. The brown bear eats berries, roots, grasses, fish, small mammals, and insects.

Decomposers Decomposers break down organisms and turn them back into nutrients for the soil.

Examples: Bacteria Fungi (mushrooms) Earthworms Snails

Scavenger Feed on dead animals (ex. A vulture)

Predator Animals that hunt other animals for food Example: A hawk hunts mice and rabbits

Prey The animal that is hunted Example: mice and rabbits

How they relate .