They’re also referred to as herbivores (“herb” is Latin for plant “vore” is the same root that’s in the word “devour”). These animals are primary consumers(because they’re the first in a chain of animals that consume the matter and energy that’s been produced by plants). Several terms are used to refer to these plant-eaters. But commonly there’s a level of animals who eat the plants. Here’s the equation for photosynthesis:ĦCO 2 + 6H 2O + light energy ? C 6H 12O 6 + 6O 2Īn ecosystem could consist entirely and solely of plants and decomposers (the bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and return make their atoms available for recycling in biogeochemical cycles). Autotroph means “self-feeder,” which is exactly what plants do: they feed themselves by making their own food through photosynthesis. The ability of plants to produce chemical energy makes them ecological producers. Through photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy, primarily in the form of carbohydrates. Getting Matter and Energy Ecologically, plants are producers and autotrophsĪlmost every ecosystem on our planet is powered by light energy from the sun. Now, let’s look in more detail at some of the organisms that make up these pathways. In the last two tutorials, which focused on the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle, we saw how carbon and nitrogen atoms move through ecosystems in various pathways in a never-ending cycle. Looking for a student learning guide? It’s linked in the main menu for your course.
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