Producer, Consumer, Decomposer? You decide…

AlgaeCats Grass Cows

MushroomsFlowers Birds Fish

Worms Houseplants Fungi

Butterflies

Humans

Cactus

Mould

Trees Bacteria

Learning objectives:All of you should be able to:Describe the role of producers, consumers and

decomposersIdentify the word equations for photosynthesis

and respiration

Most of you should be able to:Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms

of inputs, outputs, processes and transformations.Explain the role of producers, consumers and

decomposers

In pairs: come up with a definition for the following terms and write them down

Producers (autotrophs)

Consumers (heterotrophs)

Decomposers

Organisms that convert sunlight energy into chemical energy. Manufacture their own food from inorganic substances.

Obtain their energy by eating other organisms. Feed on autotrophs or other heterotrophs.

Obtain their food and nutrients from the breakdown of dead organic matter (DOM).

Their role in the ecosystem…Producers?

Consumers?

Decomposers?

Producers? Their role in the ecosystem…

• The basis of ecosystems supporting them through constant input of energy and new biomass.

• It is this biomass that provides the total theoretical energy available to all non photosynthesizing organisms in the ecosystem.

Their role in the ecosystem…Consumers?

• Cannot make their own food.

• Herbivores feed on autotrophs and carnivores on other heterotrophs.

• By eating other organisms they gain both food as energy supply and nutrient molecules from within the biomass ingested.

• Convert organic compounds into inorganic.

Their role in the ecosystem…Decomposers?• Waste managers of any ecosystem

• When they break down tissue, they release nutrients ready for reabsorption.

• They improve nutrient retention capacity in the soil.

• Can you remember the two types of decomposers and what they do?

Two processes control the flow of energy through ecosystems…What are they?

Photosynthesis

Respiration

PhotosynthesisLabel the diagram:

• Carbon Dioxide

• Glucose• Oxygen• Water

Chloroplast

PhotosynthesisSummarise photosynthesis in terms of the

following:

What are the…InputsOutputsProcessesTransformations

Inputs

Outputs

ProcessesChlorophyll traps sunlightThe energy is used to split water moleculesHydrogen from water is combined with

carbon dioxide to produce glucose

Transformations

Light Energy Chemical Energy

Can you write the word equation for photosynthesis?carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen

Light energy

Chlorophyll

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

Light energy

Chlorophyll

Inputs of Water, Carbon Dioxide and Sunlight Light energy is trapped by the

chlorophyll inside the chloroplasts

Energy is released by splitting water into

hydrogen and oxygen

Oxygen is released to the atmosphere

The hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to make

glucose.

Photosynthesis

Respiration

1.

2.

3.

4.

Label the diagram:• Glucose• Oxygen• Carbon Dioxide• Energy

RespirationSummarise respiration in terms of the

following:InputsOutputsProcessesTransformations

Inputs

Glucose

Oxygen from the atmosphere

OutputsHeat energy out

Carbon Dioxide and water

ProcessesOxidation processes inside cells.

RespirationStored chemical energy kinetic energy and heat

Can you write the word equation for respiration?oxygen + glucose energy + water +

carbon dioxide6O2 + C6H12O6 energy + 6H2O + 6CO2

ActivityIn pairs:Create a poster about the two metabolic

processes, respiration and photosynthesis.

It needs to include the following aspects:Information about the inputs, outputs,

processes and transformationsA diagram summarising these different aspectsThe word equations