Parts of a Food Web
Explain the role of a producer.
Can make their own energy (food) by using the energy from the sun.
What are two different images, graphics, ecologists use to represent how energy is transferred throughout an ecosystem?
Food chain, food web, energy pyramid
Unfortunately I can't make my own food like a producer, so I have to go and hunt for food so I can get the energy I need to survive.
Consumer
The thing that really gets all the energy started within an ecosystem isn't a living thing. It is called the ...
Sun
Explain the role of a consumer.
They obtain energy by consuming (eating) another organism.
The arrows within a food web show ....
how energy is being transferred from one population to another.
I'm somewhat a picky eater. I like to eat only plants, they are healthy and allow me to stay fit. I couldn't imagine eating another animal.
Herbivore
Bacteria, Fungi, worm
Explain what a herbivore is.
Only eats producers (plants).
This type of organism makes up the biggest part of an energy pyramid. They are found at the bottom.
Producers.
I love to eat! I'll eat anything! Plants, love them. Animals, love them too.
Omnivore.
We usually use the words "prey" and "predator". What are the other terms we learned about in this unit?
Prey = resource population
Predator = consumer population
Explain what a carnivore is.
Explain whether a food chain or food web better represents the entire picture of an ecosystem.
Food web because ...
I love the Sun. Without it, I wouldn't be able to make my own energy (glucose) to survive. I'm not able to go and eat another organism, so I have to make my own energy.
Producer.
The process that allows producers to make their own energy from the sun.
Photosynthesis.
Explain what an omnivore is.
Eats both producers and animals.
The amount of energy that gets transferred as you move up the energy pyramid ...
decreases.
I do not "consume" or eat other organisms, however my role within an ecosystem is very important. I break down dead matter to return the nutrients to the soil.
Decomposer
What is the name of the special organelle producers have in their cells that animals don't have? This allows producers to make their own energy.
Chloroplast