4.1 Energy, Producers, and Consumers

Autotrophs 

Primary producers

• Organisms that capture energy from sunlight or chemicals

  • Later used by other organisms

• Mainly plants and algae

Energy that powers life

The sun

Photosynthesis

Process used by primary producers:

• Light energy used to produce carbohydrates

• In:

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Water

  • Sun’s energy 

• Out: 

  • Oxygen

  • Energy-rich carbohydrates

Chemosynthesis

Process used by chemoautotrophs

• Chemical energy used to produce carbohydrates

  • Volcanic vents

• In:

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Oxygen

  • Hydrogen sulfide

  • Chemical energy

• Out: 

  • Carbohydrates

  • Sulfur compounds

Heterotroph

Consumer

• Obtains energy by consuming other living things

Carnivores

Obtains energy by killing and eating animals

Examples:

• Snakes

• Dogs

• Cats

• Etc.

Herbivores

Obtains energy by eating:

• Plants

• Leaves

• Roots

• Seeds

• Fruits

Examples

• Cows

• Caterpillars

• Deer

Omnivores

Obtains energy by eating both plants and animals

Examples: 

• Humans

• Bears

• Pigs

Scavengers

Animals that consume carcasses of animals who have died from:

• Predators

• Other natural causes

Decomposers

Obtains energy through chemically breaking down organic matter

• Detritus

  • Small pieces of dead + decaying plant and animal remains

Detritivores

Chew + grind detritus into smaller pieces

• Commonly digest decomposers