2.  Some organisms produce the
nutrients they need, others get
the nutrients they need by
consuming other organisms, and
some recycle nutrients back to
producers by decomposing the
wastes and remains of organisms.

3. Smallest unit of a chemical element
that exhibits its chemical properties
Atom
Molecule Chemical combination of two or
more atoms of the same or different
elements
Cell
The fundamental structural and
functional unit of life
Organism An individual living being
Population A group of individuals of the same
species living in a particular place
Community Populations of different species
living in a particular place, and
potentially interacting with each
other
Stepped Art
Ecosystem A community of different species
interacting with one another and
with their nonliving environment of
matter and energy
Biosphere Parts of the earth's air,water, and soil
where life is found
Fig. 3-4, p. 42

4.  Abiotic
› Water
› Air
› Nutrients
› Solar energy
› Rocks
› Heat
 Biotic
› Plants
› Animals
› Microbes
› Dead organisms
› Waste products
of dead
organisms

5. Soluble mineral
nutrients
Producers
Decomposers
Secondary
consumer
(fox)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Primary
consumer
(rabbit)
Producer
Oxygen (O2)
Precipitation
Water
Fig. 3-5, p. 43

6.  Producers – (autotrophs) - Make their own food
(photosynthesis)
› Examples: plants, algae, phytoplankton

7.  Consumers – (heterotrophs)- Get food by
eating other organisms
 Primary – eats producer or plants only
› Called a Herbivore
› Examples: deer, cow, caterpillar
 Secondary – eats primary consumer, or other
animals.
› Called a Carnivore
› Examples: spiders, robins, tuna
 Tertiary – eats a 2nd consumer
› Examples: tigers, hawks, killer whales

8.  Already know Herbivore and
Carnivore.
 Omnivores – eat plants and animals
› Ex: people, pigs, bears

9.  Detrivores -Feed on the waste or dead
bodies of organisms
› Examples: earthworms, some insects, vultures
 Decomposers - Consumers that release
nutrients from the dead bodies of plants and
animals
› Examples: bacteria and fungi (mushrooms)
› Help release nutrients so that they can be
recycled
› Without them the planet would be overwhelmed
by dead bodies, waste and plant litter

10.  Decomposers - Consumers that release
nutrients from the dead bodies of plants and
animals
› Examples: bacteria and fungi (mushrooms)

11.  Help release nutrients so that they can be
recycled
 Without them the planet would be
overwhelmed by dead bodies, waste and
plant litter

12. Time
progression Powder broken down by
decomposers into plant
nutrients in soil
Mushroom
Wood
reduced
to powder
Dry rot
fungus
Termite and
carpenter
ant work
DecomposersDetritus feeders
Carpenter
ant galleriesBark beetle
engraving
Long-horned
beetle holes
Fig. 3-6, p. 44

13.  Photosynthesis (done by producers only)
 Carbon dioxide + water + solar energy glucose +
oxygen
 Aerobic respiration (done by producers and
consumers)
 Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water + energy

15.  Ecosystems sustained through:
 1. One-way energy flow from the sun
through producers to consumers
 2. Nutrient recycling

16. Abiotic chemicals
(carbon dioxide,
oxygen, nitrogen,
minerals)
Decomposers
(bacteria, fungi)
Consumers
(herbivores,
carnivores)
Producers
(plants)
Solar
energy
Heat
Heat Heat
Heat Heat
Fig. 3-7, p. 45