Autotroph An organism that generates its own food to be used as energy. WordDefinition Example Phytoplankton (Marine Plants) Terrestrial Plants Etymology (word origin) Auto- = myself troph = food

Heterotroph An organism that consumes other organisms for energy. WordDefinition Example MammalsInsects Animals Etymology (word origin) Hetero- = other -troph = food

Omnivore An organism that consumes both plant and animal matter. WordDefinition Example Bears Etymology (word origin) Omni-= all -vore = devour, eat

Carnivore An organism that consumes mostly animal matter. WordDefinition Example Leopard Etymology (word origin) Carni- = meat -vore = devour, eat

Herbivore An organism that consumes mostly plant matter. WordDefinition Example Elephants Etymology (word origin) Herb- = plant -vore = devour, eat

Scavenger An organism that feeds mostly on the abandoned remains of other organisms. WordDefinition Example Hyenas Etymoloagy (word origin) From the word scawegeor, whichaa describes “a person hired to remove waste from the streets.”

Detrivore An organism that feeds mostly consumes dead organic matter. WordDefinition Example Worms Etymology (word origin) Detri- = dead matter -vore = devour, eat

Decomposer An organism that breaks down organic matter to absorb nutrients. WordDefinition Example Fungi Bacteria Etymology (word origin) De- = reverse -composer = one who combines or puts together

Predator An organism that forages by hunting other organisms. WordDefinition Example Killer Whale Etymoloagy (word origin) From the word praedator meaning “plunderer.”

Prey An organism that is hunted and consumed by a predator. WordDefinition Example Seal Etymoloagy (word origin) From the word preie meaning “animal hunted for food.”

Producers A group of organisms that begin a food web or chain by supplying the initial energy. WordDefinition Example Phytoplankton (Marine Plants) Terrestrial Plants Etymology (word origin) Pro- = before, first -ducer = to bring

Consumers A group of organisms in a food web or food chain that must eat other organism for energy. WordDefinition Example con- = together -sumer = take up