1. Producers, Consumer, & Decomposers
April 21-22, 2009

2. Producers Without a constant input of energy, living systems cannot
function. Sunlight is the
main source of energy for life
on Earth.
Only plants, some algae, and certain bacteria can capture energy from sunlight and use that energy to produce food. These organisms are called producers.

3. Producers
Producers are organisms that make their own food (energy) using the energy from the sun. They are also called Autotrophs.
(Auto = self, troph = feeder)

4. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is when a plant uses energy from the sun, plus carbon dioxide and water, to create sugar (the energy for life).
Chemical Equation for Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O O2
Light
Energy
(sugar)
Reactants Products

5. Photosynthesis

6. Video – Photosynthesis

7. Reflection What is a producer?
What are the reactants of photosynthesis? What are the products?
What element does each letter in the photosynthesis formula stand for?

8. Consumers Many organisms, such as animals, fungi, insects, and
most bacteria, cannot capture
the energy from the sun and
use it to make food like
producers do.
The only way these organisms can acquire energy is from other organisms.

9. Consumers
Consumers are organisms that get their energy by eating other living things.
They are also called Heterotrophs (Hetero = other, trophs = feeder).

10. 5 Types of Consumers
1. Herbivores
Organisms that eat only plants

11. 5 Types of Consumers 2. Carnivores
Organisms that only eat other animals

12. 5 Types of Consumers 3. Omnivores Organisms that eat both
plants and animals

13. 5 Types of Consumers 4. Detritivores
Consumers that get their food (energy) by breaking down animal remains and other dead matter.

14. 5 Types of Consumers 5. Decomposers
Consumers that get their food (energy) by breaking down organic matter.

15. Video – Decomposers

16. Reflection What is the difference between a producer and a consumer?
What are the five different types of consumers?
What’s the difference between an herbivore and a carnivore?