Classifying Organisms In an Ecosystem

Ecosystems are made up of producers, consumers and decomposers that interact to form a food web. All organisms in an
ecosystem get energy from the same place. All energy comes from the sun. This energy is then shared with all parts of the
ecosystem.
Every organism in an ecosystem gets their energy and food in different ways. The difference between producers, consumers and
decomposers is the way they find food and energy.
Producers are organisms that can produce their own food, it takes in energy from the sun (process known as photosynthesis)
ex. plants and plant like living things
Consumers an organism that cannot make its own food, it depends on others and gets food by eating other organisms
ex. animals, humans
Decomposers an organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, will recycle nutrients from dead organisms which then can
be used again by producers
ex. worms, bacteria, fungi
Scavengers - feeds on dead animal and plant material present in its habitat (dont usually kill for their own food)
ex. vultures, raccoons, hyenas
These three organisms all depend on each other for energy and food. Without each other they would not survive.
CONSUMERS
We can further classify consumers based on the kinds of food they eat. All animals are food consumers.
Herbivore eat plants and plant like living things
-may only eat part of the plant
-plants are easy to find
-seeds of the plants are often packed with energy rich nutrients
Ex. moose, caterpillar, rabbits

Carnivore animal eaters (all parts of the animal meat, organs etc.)
-have a simple digestive system (meat easier to break down into energy)
-have teeth made for grasping and tearing
Ex. cougar, mosquito, penguin

Omnivore are plant and animal eaters
-some may eat plants most of the time or meat most of the time
Ecosystem
Biotic
Abiotic
Producer
(Autotroph)

Consumer
(Heterotroph)
Decomposer/
Scavenger
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
-will switch when the food is not available or when they need to eat extra foods for energy
-what they eat depends on where they are, time of year, young or old
Ex. humans, raven, squirrel

Classifying Organisms In an Ecosystem









Ecosystems are made up of________________________, ___________________ and __________________ that
interact to form a _________________________. All organisms in an ecosystem get __________________ from the
same place. All energy comes from the _______________. This energy is then shared with all parts of the ecosystem.

Every organism in an ecosystem gets there energy and food in different ways. The difference between producers,
consumers and decomposers is the way they ________________ food and energy.

__________________ are organisms that can produce their own food, it takes in energy from the sun (process known
as photosynthesis)
ex. ____________________________________
__________________ an organism that cannot make its own food, it depends on others and gets food by eating other
organisms
ex. ____________________________________
__________________ an organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, will recycle nutrients from dead
organisms which then can be used again by producers
ex. _____________________________________
__________________ - feeds on dead animal and plant material present in its habitat (dont usually kill for their own
food)
ex. _____________________________________
These organisms all depend on each other for energy and food. Without each other they would not survive.






CONSUMERS
We can further classify consumers based on the kinds of food they eat. All animals are food consumers.
____________________ eat plants and plant like living things
-may only eat part of the plant
-plants are easy to find
-seeds of the plants are often packed with energy rich nutrients
Ex. _________________________________________________

____________________ animal eaters (all parts of the animal meat, organs etc.)
-have a simple digestive system (meat easier to break down into energy)
-have teeth made for grasping and tearing
Ex. _________________________________________________

____________________ are plant and animal eaters
-some may eat plants most of the time or meat most of the time
-will switch when the food is not available or when they need to eat extra foods for energy
-what they eat depends on where they are, time of year, young or old
Ex. _________________________________________________