Types of Organisms
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Scientists love to classify things to explain relationships and add order to the world. On Earth, we have such a great diversity of living organisms. In order to sort them all out we categorize living things by how they get the energy.
All of the processes that take place within organisms require energy.
For ecosystems, the major source of energy is sunlight.
Energy entering ecosystems as sunlight is transferred and transformed by producers into energy that organisms use through the process of photosynthesis.
For ecosystems, the major source of energy is sunlight.
Energy entering ecosystems as sunlight is transferred and transformed by producers into energy that organisms use through the process of photosynthesis.
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Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from plants to consumers (herbivores, omnivores to carnivores) and decomposers. The exchange of energy that occurs in an ecosystem can be represented as a food web. The exchange of energy in an ecosystem is important because all processes of life for all organisms require a supply of energy that never ends.
Organisms perform a variety of roles in an ecosystem.
Populations of organisms can be categorized by how they acquire (get) energy.
Animals get their energy by eating plants and other animals that eat plants.
Populations of organisms can be categorized by how they acquire (get) energy.
Animals get their energy by eating plants and other animals that eat plants.
Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
Producers
Plants and some microorganisms (tiny organisms) are producers. They are the foundation( beginning) of the food web. Producers transform (change) energy from the sun and make food through a process called photosynthesis.
Producers use sunlight to make sugar from water and carbon dioxide. (In other words, they make their own food.) This process is known as photosynthesis.
Sunlight + carbon dioxide + water=Sugar and oxygen
***All energy in an ecosystem starts with producers**
Plants and some microorganisms (tiny organisms) are producers. They are the foundation( beginning) of the food web. Producers transform (change) energy from the sun and make food through a process called photosynthesis.
Producers use sunlight to make sugar from water and carbon dioxide. (In other words, they make their own food.) This process is known as photosynthesis.
Sunlight + carbon dioxide + water=Sugar and oxygen
***All energy in an ecosystem starts with producers**
Consumers
Consumers are organisms that consume (eat) other organisms.
Herbivores only eat plants to get energy
Carnivores eat other consumers to get energy.
Omnivores eat both plants and animals to get energy.
Scavengers feed on dead organisms to get energy
Consumers are organisms that consume (eat) other organisms.
Herbivores only eat plants to get energy
Carnivores eat other consumers to get energy.
Omnivores eat both plants and animals to get energy.
Scavengers feed on dead organisms to get energy
Decomposers
Decomposers use up what scavengers leave behind to get energy and return nutrients back into the soil.
Decomposers use up what scavengers leave behind to get energy and return nutrients back into the soil.
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