Autotroph
An autotroph is an organism that can make its own food by
synthesizing organic nutrients from inorganic materials,
using energy from sunlight or a chemical source to drive the
process. The word autotroph comes from the Greek
words auto, meaning “self,” and troph, meaning “feeding.”
Example : Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria are autotrophs
that use light energy from the Sun to convert carbon dioxide
and water to the organic molecule glucose.
Heterotroph
A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must
obtain its nutrients from other sources.
Example: All
animals, protozoans, fungi, and most
bacteria are heterotrophs. Compare autotroph.
Decomposer
Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms;
they carry out decomposition, a process possible by only certain kingdoms,
such as fungi.
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Detrivore
Carnivore
an animal that obtains its nutrition by eating primary
consumers and secondary consumers. Usually tertiary
consumers are carnivorous predators, although they
may also be omnivores, which are animals that feed
on both meat and plant material.
Detritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages,
detritus feeders or detritus eaters) are heterotrophs
that obtain nutrients by consuming
detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well
as feces)
A carnivore is an organism that mostly eats meat, or
the flesh of animals. Sometimes carnivores are called
predators. Organisms that carnivores hunt are called
prey. Carnivores are a major part of the food web, a
description of which organisms eat which other
organisms in the wild.
Herbivore
an organism that mostly feeds on plants. Herbivores
range in size from tiny insects such as aphids to large,
lumbering elephants. Herbivores are a major part of
the food web, a description of which organisms eat
other organisms in the wild.
Omnivore
An omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant
and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal
matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and
metabolize the nutrients and energy of the sources absorbed.
Biomass
Biomass, in the context of energy production, is matter from
recently living organisms which is used for bioenergy production. Examples
include wood, wood residues, energy crops, agricultural residues including
straw, and organic waste from industry and households.
Prepared by:
Abigail F. Arce
Science Teacher