Roles in the Ecosystem

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ProducersAutotrophicMake food energy (carbohydrates/calories)

from sun, water, carbon dioxideSupport the entire food chain

PlantsAlgae (phytoplankton)Microorganisms

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ConsumersHeterotrophsNeeds to ingest carbohydrate energy (cannot

make it)HerbivoresCarnivoresOmnivores

Play the Animal Diet Game! http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animaldietgame.htm

zooplankton

Mooo!

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DecomposersHeterotrophic, saprophytes, detrivoresThese get the energy left in the cells of

organisms that have diedBacteriaFungiProtistsInvertebrates

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Identification GameProducer? Consumer? Decomposer?http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/an

imals/kidscorner/games/producersconsumersgame.htm

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Trophic Levels“Trophic”: From Ancient Greek

(trophikos), “‘pertaining to food or nourishment’”In ecology, the feeding level of an organism

(primary consumer, secondary consumer, etc) is called it’s trophic level.

Most ecosystems ultimately rely upon the Sun for energy and upon photosynthetic organisms to harness that energy.

There are only a few exceptions to this, such as chemosynthetic archaea which derive energy from the break down of sulfur rich compounds around deep sea hydrothermal vents and acid mine drainage.

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Energy conversionsBecause a fraction of the

energy used by a level is converted to biomass, etc. less energy is available at higher levels.

The biomass is the mass of living biological organisms in a given trophic level.

Note the biomass decrease at each level. Why?

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Food Chains

Food Chain Gamehttp://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm

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Food Webs Identify the:1. Producers 2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers 4. Herbivores 5. Carnivores 6. Omnivores 7. What elements are missing from this food web?

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Invasive Specieshttp://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/

animals/articles/alien_animals/alien_home2.htm

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