Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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Primary Producer Noun

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[pry-mair-ee pro-doo-ser]

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Primary Producer

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An organism that creates its own energy, usually through photosynthesis, forming the first trophic level in an ecosystem.

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Example: This diagram shows a plant leaf using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create its own food (glucose), which is what makes it a primary producer.

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Consumer Noun

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[kon-soo-mer]

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Consumer

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An organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply by ingesting them.

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Example: An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms. In this food chain, the rabbit, fox, and eagle are all consumers.

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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 energy and nutrients by feeding on plants.

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Example: A cow, an animal that eats only plants, is shown eating grass, demonstrating how herbivores get their energy from producers.

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Carnivore Noun

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[kar-nuh-vor]

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Carnivore

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A type of consumer that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other animals.

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Example: A carnivore, like the lion, is an animal that gets its energy by eating other animals, such as the deer in this food chain.

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Omnivore Noun

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[om-nuh-vor]

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Omnivore

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A type of consumer that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on both plants and animals.

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Example: This Venn diagram shows that omnivores are animals that eat both plants (like herbivores) and meat (like carnivores).

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Food Chain Noun

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[food chayn]

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Food Chain

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A linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy are transferred from one organism to another.

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Example: This diagram shows energy flowing from the sun to a producer (grass), which is eaten by consumers in a sequence: grasshopper, bird, and fox.

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Phytoplankton Noun

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[fy-toh-plank-tun]

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Phytoplankton

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Microscopic marine algae that serve as primary producers in many aquatic food chains through photosynthesis.

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Example: This image shows that phytoplankton are a diverse group of microscopic, plant-like organisms, including diatoms and algae, that form the base of aquatic food webs.

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Food Web Noun

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[food web]

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Food Web

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A complex network of interconnected food chains showing how energy and matter move through an ecosystem.

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Example: This diagram shows a food web, where arrows indicate the flow of energy from the organism being eaten to the one that eats it.

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Decomposer Noun

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[dee-kum-poh-zer]

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Decomposer

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An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter and recycles nutrients.

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Example: This image shows four examples of decomposers—fungi, bacteria, insects, and earthworms—which are organisms that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients in an ecosystem.

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Detritivore Noun

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[di-try-tuh-vor]

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Detritivore

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An organism that feeds on detritus, which consists of particles of dead organic material.

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Example: An earthworm is a detritivore, an organism that consumes dead organic material (detritus) in the soil, breaking it down and recycling nutrients.