Biology 20: Energy and Matter: Types of Organisms

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food using sunlight or chemicals

Heterotroph

An organism that gets food by eating other organisms

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead matter and recycles nutrients

Producer

An autotroph at the first trophic level

Consumer

An organism that eats other organisms for energy

Primary Consumer

A consumer that eats producers

Secondary Consumer

A consumer that eats primary consumers

Tertiary Consumer

A consumer that eats secondary consumers

Herbivore

An animal that eats plants

Carnivore

An animal that eats animals

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals

Scavenger

An animal that eats dead organisms

Quaternary Consumer

A consumer that eats tertiary consumers and is often a top predator