ECOLOGY WORDS 10-15

10. PRODUCER- - Organisms that contribute to the food chain - Organisms that contribute to the food chain - Producers perform photosynthesis and can make their own food - Producers perform photosynthesis and can make their own food Includes all green plants Includes all green plants

11. CONSUMER- An organism that eats or consumes food to obtain energy An organism that eats or consumes food to obtain energy All animals are consumers All animals are consumers There are 3 types of consumers There are 3 types of consumers

12. HERBIVORE- A consumer that eats only plants A consumer that eats only plants Can you name some herbivores? Can you name some herbivores?

13. CARNIVORE- A consumer that eats only other animals A consumer that eats only other animals Can you name some carnivores? Can you name some carnivores?

14. OMNIVORE- Consumers that eat both plants and animals Consumers that eat both plants and animals Humans are omnivores Humans are omnivores

TYPES OF CONSUMERS

15. DECOMPOSER- An organism that changes dead organisms into chemicals that can be used again An organism that changes dead organisms into chemicals that can be used again Often called the “recyclers” of nature Often called the “recyclers” of nature

MORE EXAMPLES OF PRODUCERS A tulip is a producer A tulip is a producer Grass is a producer Grass is a producer Even a venus fly trap is a producer Even a venus fly trap is a producer

MORE EXAMPLES OF CONSUMERS A fox is a consumer. Can you name what kind of consumer it is? A fox is a consumer. Can you name what kind of consumer it is? What about a dog? What about a dog? What kind of consumer is a deer? What kind of consumer is a deer?

WERE YOU RIGHT???? A fox is an omnivore!! A fox is an omnivore!! A dog is true carnivore, however since dogs have been domesticated sometimes they are classified as an omnivore A dog is true carnivore, however since dogs have been domesticated sometimes they are classified as an omnivore And a deer of course is an herbivore And a deer of course is an herbivore

Why are decomposers so important to our ecosystem?? They get rid of rotting corpses (bodies) in the environment They get rid of rotting corpses (bodies) in the environment They also put back needed nutrients into the soil so new producers can grow They also put back needed nutrients into the soil so new producers can grow That is why they are called the recyclers of nature! That is why they are called the recyclers of nature!