Bell work Indian pipe is a plant that is completely white—it has no chlorophyll or chloroplasts to give it a green color. Do you think this plant could be a producer? If not, where do you think it could get the energy it needs to survive?

Everything needs energy By Mrs. Cancasci Ecology Everything needs energy By Mrs. Cancasci

Energy! Every living organism on Earth needs energy to survive. Organisms are divided into groups based on how they get energy. Producers Consumers Decomposers

Producers Organisms that use sunlight directly to make food are called producers. Types of producers… Plants Protists (single/multi cell organisms) Some types of bacteria

Producers Every food chain begins with a producer. Producers use sunlight to make food in a process known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar. Plants need only light energy, CO2, and H2O to make sugar.

Consumers Organisms that eat other organisms are called consumers. Types of consumers… Animals Fungi (some types) Protists (some types) Bacteria (some types)

Consumers There are several types of consumers. Herbivores-eat only plants Carnivores-eat only meat Omnivores-eat both plants and meat Scavengers-eat dead plants/animals Think of an example of each.

Decomposers Organisms that break down dead organisms-not to be confused with scavengers. Decomposers get energy from breaking down complex chemicals in dead organisms into simple chemicals that become part of the soil. Types of Decomposers… Bacteria Fungi Protists

Decomposers Decomposers are nature’s natural recyclers. The chemicals that the decomposers deposit into the soil are used by plants to grow. These chemicals are the transferred to consumers. Then transferred back to decomposers to be put back into the soil.

So where does the energy come from? Plants and animals use energy for life functions, but store the rest in their tissues for future use. It is this stored energy that is transferred to consumers when they consume food. Some is used and the rest is stored.

Energy pyramid The bottom level is composed of producers-they get/have the most energy from the sun. The next level is composed of consumers- herbivores they consume what ever energy is stored by the producers The next level is composed of consumers- carnivores/omnivores, they consume what ever is stored in the tissues of the organisms they consume Each layer closer to the top gets less energy from the layer below it. So they must consume more to gain more energy. This is why there is more producers than herbivores. And there are less carnivores than herbivores.

Food Chain A food chain shows one pathway energy may take. All food chains begin with a producer. Draw a food chain. Producer-consumer-consumer-decomposer

Food web A food web shows multiple pathways energy may take. Think of it as several food chains linked together. Draw a food web.