Flow of Energy

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Producer Noun

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[pro-doo-ser]

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Producer

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A living thing that makes its own food from materials found in its environment, often using light or chemical energy.

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Example: A leaf uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen, demonstrating how producers make food.

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Chemosynthesis Noun

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[kee-mo-sin-thuh-sis]

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Chemosynthesis

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The process where producers use chemical energy stored in matter, rather than light energy, to create their own food.

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Example: Chemosynthesis is shown as mussels use chemicals from a hydrothermal vent to make food.

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Consumer Noun

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[kuhn-soo-mer]

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Consumer

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An organism that obtains the energy it needs to survive by consuming, or eating, other living organisms.

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Example: The image shows different levels of consumers in a food chain, highlighting how each consumes other organisms for energy.

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Herbivore Noun

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[hur-buh-vor]

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Herbivore

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A type of consumer that obtains its energy and nutrients by feeding exclusively on producers, such as plants.

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Example: Animals like cows, horses, and rabbits are herbivores because they eat only plants.

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Carnivore Noun

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[kar-nuh-vor]

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Carnivore

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A consumer that gets its energy and nutrients by eating other animals.

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Example: The image shows animals like lions and eagles that eat other animals, illustrating what a carnivore is.

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Omnivore Noun

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[om-nuh-vor]

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Omnivore

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A consumer that obtains its energy and nutrients by eating both producers and other consumers.

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Example: The image shows a bear eating both meat and plants, demonstrating how omnivores consume both producers and other consumers.

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Detritivore Noun

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[dih-trahy-tuh-vor]

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Detritivore

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A consumer that obtains its energy by feeding on the dead organic remains of other organisms.

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Example: Earthworms and fungi are detritivores that feed on dead organic matter.

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Decomposer Noun

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[dee-kuhm-poh-zer]

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Decomposer

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A type of detritivore that obtains nutrients by feeding on and breaking down dead organisms, recycling matter.

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Example: Fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms to recycle nutrients.

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Decomposition Noun

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[dee-kom-puh-zish-uhn]

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Decomposition

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The process by which decomposers break down dead organisms, which helps to recycle essential nutrients through ecosystems.

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Example: Decomposers like insects and fungi break down dead plants, recycling nutrients into the soil.

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Food chain Noun

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[food cheyn]

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Food chain

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A simple model showing the linear sequence of how energy moves from a producer to one or more consumers.

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Example: The image shows how energy moves from the sun to a plant, then to a grasshopper, a bird, and finally a fox.