Ecology

EcologyDecomposers

Review: Producers• Producers are organisms that make

their own food using air, sunlight, and water• Such as, green plants and algae

Review: Photosynthesis• Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food using the sun’s energy, water and carbon dioxide.

Sunlight + CO2 + Water (H20) O2 + Glucose (C6H12O6)Formula:

What part of the plant is for making food?

Photosynthesis• Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts

Photosynthesis• Leaves have little openings called stomata• These stomata on the leaves are

used for gas exchange

Components of a Food Chain

2.PRODUCERS

3. CONSUMERS4. DECOMPOSER

1.SUN

Consumers• Consumers cannot make their own

food• Consumers are organisms that must

eat other organisms (plants or animals) for their food

Consumers• What are plant-eating consumers

called?-Herbivores

• What are meat-eating consumers called?

-Carnivores

Consumers• What are consumers that eat both

plants and animals called?-Omnivores

• What are consumers that eat dead plants or dead animals called?

-Scavengers

Levels of Consumers• Primary (1°) Consumers = “first eaters”

• Secondary (2°) Consumers = “second eaters”

• Tertiary (3°) Consumers = “third eaters”

Components of a Food Chain

2.PRODUCERS

3. CONSUMERS4. DECOMPOSERS

1.SUN

Decomposers

• Decomposers are organisms that break down the cells of dead material and recycle the nutrients back into the ecosystem

Decomposers• Eventually all food chains end in

decomposers

Examples of Decomposers1. Bacteria-very important decomposers-important for recycling nutrients-widely distributed-can break down just about any type of organic matter-a gram of soil typically contains 40 million bacterial cells!

Examples of Decomposers2. Fungi -includes yeast, mold, and mushrooms-primary decomposers of litter in many ecosystems-primary decomposers in forests

Examples of Decomposers3. Worms-various types of worms can act as decomposers-they can break down organic materials and add nutrients to the soil-they can also help loosen the soil so air can circulate-This helps plants grow!

What would happen if we didn’t have decomposers?• The earth would be covered in a layer of dead

flies almost 20 feet deep!• Decomposers recycle the nutrients back into the

ecosystem• If we didn’t have decomposers, producers would

not get their nutrients and would die• If we didn’t have producers (plants), all living

things would die!

What would happen if we didn’t have decomposers?• Think of pop can recycling.  When pop cans are

recycled, they are melted down into aluminum and sent off to processing plants so the metal can be used again 

•  If we did not recycle pop cans, we would run out of aluminum in the future

•  Likewise, if nutrients were not recycled in our environment they would not be available to other organisms

Conditions that promote decomposers•Warmth • Lots of air• Lots of food•Moisture (water)• Darkness

But what is the difference between Scavengers and Decomposers?• Scavengers eat dead material that

they find (they have mouths). E.g. Vulture

• Decomposers “break down” the cells of dead material. E.g. Mold

Review: Label the producers, consumers, decomposers, and the levels of consumers

Review: Label the producers, consumers, decomposers, and the levels of consumers

Review:Label the producers, consumers, decomposers, and the levels of consumers

Exit Slip

1. Producer A. Green pigments that absorb light

2. Herbivore B. Consumers that eat both plants and animals

3. Consumer C. The process by which green plants make their own food

4. Photosynthesis D. Organisms that break down the cells of dead material and recycle the nutrients back into the ecosystem

5. Carnivore E. Plant-eating consumers

6. Chloroplasts F. Consumers that eat dead plants and dead animals

7.Omnivores G. Meat-eating consumers

8. Decomposer H. Where photosynthesis occurs

9. Scavengers I. Organisms that need to eat plants or animals for their food

10. Chlorophyll J. Organisms that make their own food