Producers, Consumers and Decomposers

Organisms that make their own food are called

• Consumers

• Decomposers

• Herbivores

• Producers

Answer explanation

Organisms that make their own food, like plants, are called producers. They convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, unlike consumers and decomposers, which rely on other organisms for food.

All energy within an ecosystem starts with

• Water

• The sun

• Minerals

• Plants

Answer explanation

All energy in an ecosystem originates from the sun, which provides the necessary light for producers to create their own food.

True or False
Consumers can create their own food.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Consumers do not create their own food. Producers create their own food and consumers eat producers.

True or False

Only consumers decompose and breakdown

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Both producers and consumers can decompose and break down.

An example of a consumer is

• Algae

• Bacteria

• Lion

• Lichen

Answer explanation

A lion is a consumer because it is a carnivore that feeds on other animals. Algae and lichen are producers, while bacteria can be decomposers or producers, depending on the type.

Decomposers are important in an ecosystem because they

• breakdown dead organisms and recycle nutrients

• make their own food

• create oxygen

• produce energy from sunlight

Answer explanation

Decomposers help breakdown organic materials and recycle nutrients back into the soil that helps producers grow.

Some animals such as vultures eat dead animals and other decomposers. They are called detritivores.

Which is NOT an example of a decomposer?

• Grasshopper

• Fungi

• Worms

• Bacteria

Answer explanation

A grasshopper is an herbivore and feeds on plants, while decomposers like fungi, worms, and bacteria break down dead organic matter.