AIM: What are the roles of producers consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem? Do Now: 1. Explain the difference between a producer, consumer, scavenger and decomposer

1.Explain the difference between biotic and abiotic factors. 2.List three biotic factors that are surrounding you. 3.List three abiotic factors that are surrounding you. 4. What is a habitat and what does it provide? 5. Ecologically speaking, which is bigger, a population or a community? Explain. 6. Name three biomes.

Organism Categories: Organisms Producers (Autotrophs) Consumers (Heterotrophs) Decomposers

Producers Organisms that make their own food Photosynthesis Ex: plants CO2 + H2O + sunlight O2 + C6H12O6

Consumers Organisms that cannot make their own food Obtain energy by eating other organisms Four types 1.Herbivores 2.Carnivores 3.Omnivores 4.scavengers

Herbivores Eat only plants Primary consumers Ex: insects, birds, cows, buffalo,

Carnivores Eat herbivores and other carnivores Secodary-tertiary consumers Lions, snakes, hawks, spiders

Omnivores Eat both producers and consumers Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers Humans, bears

Scavengers Feed on dead organisms –do not hunt their prey Vultures, hyenas, insects

Decomposers Bacteria and fungi that consume the bodies of dead organisms and other organic wastes Recycle nutrients from dead organisms back to the environment

Trophic Levels Troph = “to feed” Feeding level –Producers = largest trophic level Autotroph and Heterotroph –Autotroph: Producers (make their own food) –Heterotroph: Consumers (eat other organsims)

Heterotroph Autotroph

Producers- largest trophic level Primary consumers Secondary consumers Tertiary consumers

1. What is the main difference between a producer and a consumer? 2. How do consumers get their energy? 3. What is the difference between a carnivore and a scavenger? 4. Explain the importance of decomposers to the ecosystem. 5. What is a trophic level? 6. Which trophic level is usually largest? 7. Define the terms autotroph and heterotroph.

4.1 1.List the different groups of organisms inan ecosystem, and explain how each gathers food 2.How do autotrophs and heterotrophs differ? 3.In most ecosystems, the first trophic level contains more organisms than the second trophic level. Can you suggest a reason for this pattern?