Nearly all autotrophs use a process called photosynthesis to create “food” (a nutrient called glucose) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
(Ex. Plants, Algae, Bacteria, Grass, small shrubs)
Are herbivores, feeding on plants.
(Ex. Caterpillars, insects, grasshoppers, termites and hummingbirds are all examples of primary consumers because they only eat autotrophs (plants).
Are large predators, but even the smaller ones often eat herbivores bigger than they are in order to get enough energy. They could also be Omnivores (an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.)
(Ex. meat eaters: Spiders, snakes, and seals)
Can eat many different animals and even plants sometimes. This means that they can actually be carnivorous or omnivorous.
(Ex. Eagles, big fish, carnivore-eating carnivores, birds of prey, big cats, and foxes.)
Hunt other animals but are not hunted themselves.
(Ex. polar bears and grizzlies, cougars and wolves and some shark species.)
Can break down dead things, but they can also feast on decaying flesh while it's still on a living organism.
(Ex. bacteria, fungi, some insects, and snails, which means they are not always microscopic.)
How energy passes through an ecosystem through organisms eating and being eaten
The interaction of all the food chains in an ecosystem
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