Producers & Consumers

All Organisms Need Energy All organisms in an ecosystem need energy to live. Organisms can be grouped by how they get energy. Organisms in an ecosystem are grouped as producers, consumers, or decomposers.

What Are Producers? Producers Producers are organisms that use energy from the sun to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. A producer as an organism that produces its own food. Most producers are plants.

Examples of Producers Producers While most producers are plants, algae and some bacteria are also producers. Algae are common producers in estuaries and marine ecosystems. The grasses, shrubs, and trees in a meadow are examples of producers. These types of producers are common in grasslands and forest ecosystems.

Consumers Some organisms must get energy by eating other organisms. These organisms are called consumers. Consumers can be organized into three groups: carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores.

Consumers Carnivores Carnivores are consumers that eat only other animals. In marine ecosystems, sharks, walruses, seals, and octopuses are common carnivores. In land ecosystems, lions, wolves, hawks, and eagles are common carnivores.

Herbivores Consumers Herbivores are consumers that eat only plants. Since plants make their own food, herbivores get energy from eating these producers. In a forest ecosystem, deer and rabbits are common herbivores. In a savannah ecosystem in Africa, zebras and elephants are common herbivores.

Consumers Omnivores Omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals. Since they can eat a variety of organisms, omnivores can easily adapt to changing environments. Pigs, bears, raccoons, and humans are examples of omnivores.

Consumers Tertiary Consumers  Secondary Consumers Primary Consumers Producer