Role of Living Things
Living things in an ecosystem depend on one another for basic needs such as food, shelter, and protection. The living things found in an ecosystem are interdependent. This means that living things depend on each other to meet their needs. You know that many animals depend on plants for food. But organisms depend on each other for other things, too.
Relationships in an Ecosystem
Most living things on Earth get the energy to live from sunlight. Green plants and algae use energy in sunlight, plus water and carbon dioxide, to make their own food.
1. Any living thing that can make its own food is called a producer. Producers can be as small as a tiny moss or as large as a huge redwood tree. Most producers are
plants
grasses
shrubs
trees
algae
bacteria
2. An animal that eats plants or other animals is called a consumer. Consumers can't make their own food, so they must eat other living things. Animals including people cannot produce their own food.
3. A living thing that feeds on wastes and on the remains of dead plants and animals is called a decomposer.
Living things in an ecosystem depend on one another for basic needs such as food, shelter, and protection. The living things found in an ecosystem are interdependent. This means that living things depend on each other to meet their needs. You know that many animals depend on plants for food. But organisms depend on each other for other things, too.
Relationships in an Ecosystem
Most living things on Earth get the energy to live from sunlight. Green plants and algae use energy in sunlight, plus water and carbon dioxide, to make their own food.
1. Any living thing that can make its own food is called a producer. Producers can be as small as a tiny moss or as large as a huge redwood tree. Most producers are
plants
grasses
shrubs
trees
algae
bacteria
2. An animal that eats plants or other animals is called a consumer. Consumers can't make their own food, so they must eat other living things. Animals including people cannot produce their own food.
3. A living thing that feeds on wastes and on the remains of dead plants and animals is called a decomposer.
Three Kinds of Consumers.
Consumers are not all the same. In fact, there are three kinds of consumers - herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Consumers are not all the same. In fact, there are three kinds of consumers - herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
A herbivore is an animal that eats only plants, or producers. Horses are herbivores. So are giraffes, squirrels, and rabbits.
A carnivore is an animal that eats only other animals. Bobcats, Florida panthers, and lions are carnivores. A carnivore can be as large as a whale or as small as a frog.
An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and other animals. That is omnivores eat both producers and other consumers. Bears and hyenas are omnivores.