Dependence of OrganismsHouston Academy

5.9B

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is an area where living things interact with nonliving things and each other. Living things rely on their ecosystem to give the things they need to live.

Habitat

A habitat is the place where an organism lives. A habitat could be as small as a puddle or as large as a lake; as small as a leaf or as large as a forest.

ProducerA producer is an organism, such as a plant, that can make its own food.

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis is the process by which plants make their own food. Plants absorb energy from sunlight, and then use that energy to change water and carbon dioxide into glucose, a kind of sugar. Plants use the sugar for their life processes and store what they don’t use.

ConsumersConsumers feed on other organisms, including plants and animals. Consumers are classified by the kinds of food they eat.

Carnivore

A carnivore is an animal that eats only other animals. Carnivores are sometimes predators that hunt and kill prey. Other carnivores eat already dead animals, and they are called scavengers. Carnivores depend on other animals for their energy needs. Lions, wolves, sharks, and some kinds of insects are examples of carnivores.

HerbivoreAn herbivore is an animal that eats only plants, seeds, or nuts. It uses the stored energy in the plant parts for its life processes. Cattle, rabbits, sheep, goats, pandas, giraffes, and deer are examples of herbivores.

OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and other animals. Some omnivores eat mostly plants and other omnivores eat mostly animals. What they eat depends on the availability of their favorite plant or animal. Humans, alligators, bears, raccoon, turtles, ducks, and seagulls are examples of omnivores.

Picture used with permission: Alex D. Jones, 2010

DecomposerA decomposer is a consumer that breaks down the remains of dead organisms and other organic matter for its energy. A decomposer breaks down decaying plants and animals into small pieces as they feed. These pieces mix with the soil, adding nutrients to it for the plants to absorb. Examples include mushrooms, earthworms, shelf fungus, and bacteria.

Picture used with permission: Alex D. Jones, 2010

Food Chain

An food chain is a diagram that uses arrows to show the flow of energy (food) from one organism to another in an ecosystem. Energy moves from the sun to producers to consumers to decomposers.

Food WebA food web is a series of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. A food web can give you more information about an ecosystem than a simple food chain. Most animals have more than one food source. Many animals compete for similar food sources.