Energy Transfer & Food Webs

producer

an organism that makes its own food from sunlight; also referred to as autotrophs

consumer

an organism that eats another organism for energy; also referred to as heterotrophs

decomposer

an organism that breaks down dead matter into usable nutrients (ex: fungus, bacteria)

food web

a system of interdependent food chains that traces the flow of energy in an ecosystem

food chain

a leveled system tracing flow of energy from one organism to another

the Sun

the primary source for all the energy that exists on our planet in every form

herbivore

an organism that consumes only plants

carnivore

an organism that consumes only animals (meat)

omnivore

an organism that consumes both plants and animals

energy flow or energy transfer

the movement of energy from the Sun, to producers, to consumers, and eventually to decomposers

ecology

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment

organism

Any living thing; may be a single-cell organism, a plant or an animal

autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food; also referred to as primary producers

heterotrophs

organisms that get energy from the foods it eats;

also referred to as consumers

biotic

living

abiotic

non-living