Producers, Consumers and Decomposers

Learning Objectives

By the end of this unit, you will be able to explain how different types of organisms obtain the food they need by identifying and describing the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in obtaining matter and energy.

A close-up of a leafy plant with sunlight shining in the background.

Producers, like this plant, make their own food using energy from the Sun.

© Anna Subbotina/stock.adobe.com

Lesson Summary

This lesson introduces the idea that organisms get the food they need differently. Through videos, images, and text, you’ll learn how different types of organisms—producers, consumers, and decomposers—get the matter and energy they need.

A young person holds a basket of peaches.

Humans are consumers. Their bodies don't make food, so they have to get food another way.

© PictureNet Corporation—DigitalVision/Getty Images

Key Concepts

1. Plants and other producers convert matter in the air and water to food.

2. Food made by producers is transferred to other organisms

A mushroom with a tall stalk and a wide cap resembling an umbrella grows from the moss-covered ground.

This parasol mushroom(decomposer) breaks down dead organisms for the matter and energy it needs.

© Kathrin Ziegler—DigitalVision/Getty Images

Background

In this lesson, you will explore the fascinating ways organisms obtain the food they need. Did you know that different organisms have unique strategies for acquiring the matter and energy necessary for survival?

Firstly, you will learn about the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers. Each of these organisms plays a vital part in the food chain. Producers like plants can remarkably convert matter from the air and water into food. This magical process is known as photosynthesis. We will unravel the mysteries of photosynthesis, discovering what it requires and what it produces.

Next, we will delve into the categorization of organisms based on their roles. It's common for students to think of a food chain as a linear progression from producers to consumers, often ending with human beings. However, we must remember that the feeding linkages in a food chain or web are cyclical. Every organism, regardless of its level, is subject to decomposition. During this process, the matter and energy within them are recycled, allowing the cycle of life to continue.

As you progress, you will dive deeper into the intricate relationships between organisms and their ecosystems' living and non-living components. By understanding the dependence of organisms on their surroundings, you will gain a richer understanding of the delicate balance of nature.

Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery as we unlock the secrets of how organisms obtain their food. Together, we will unravel the interconnectedness of producers, consumers, and decomposers, shedding light on our ecosystems’ remarkable web of life.

A hedgehog sits next to a colorful mushroom growing from the leaf-and-grass-covered ground.

Can you identify a producer, a consumer, and a decomposer in this photo?

Expedition Learn

Click on the image to begin your unit.