Energy Flow in Ecosystems

A producer is an organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis. Examples include plants like grass and trees.

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers. An example is a rabbit that eats grass.

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals. Examples include humans and bears.

A carnivore is an organism that primarily eats other animals. Examples include lions and hawks.

A herbivore is an organism that only eats plants. Examples include cows and rabbits.

A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the amount of energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Typically, only about 10% of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

Plants are producers that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.