Producers and Consumers Flashcards
(20 cards)
Producers and Consumers
Consumers cannot produce their own food
Producers are also called autotrophs.
Herbivores
Only eats plants.
Carnivores
Meat eaters
Three different types of carnivores
· Predators (Hunt and eat other animals (prey).
· Scavengers (Eat other animals that are already dead).
· Insectivore (Feed on insects).
Omnivores
Feed on both plants and meat.
Detritivores
Feed on decomposed material of plants and animals.
Pave the way for decomposers.
Decomposers
Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) recycle dead plant and animal material in nutrients, viz nitrogen and carbon.
Nutrients are released in water, atmosphere and soil.
Food chain
Trophic level: The position that an organism holds in a food chain.
Food chain: The relationship in which energy (found in food) flows between living organisms.
Food pyramid: A food pyramid
Trophic level
· Producers · Primary consumer · Secondary consumer · Tertiary consumer · Apex predator · Decompose
Ecological balance
Ecological balance: A stable balance in the number of each species in ecosystems.
Human factors that could disturb the ecological balance
Human Factors → Population may not survive · Habitat destruction · Pollution · Climate change
Natural factors that could disturb the ecological balance
Natural Factors → Population will most probably survive · Food shortages · Predators · Diseases · Droughts/floods
Adaptions
Adaptation is the physical or behavioural characteristic of an organism that helps an organism to survive better in the surrounding environment.
Xerophytes
- Survive in dry areas.
- Absorb water quickly when it is available.
- Store water for dry times of the year.
- Must lose as little water as possible through transportation.
- E.g Aloe
Hydrophytes
- Survive in wet areas.
- Exposed to a lot of water.
- E.g Water lily
Animal Adaptions
Animals that need to survive in extreme conditions: Polar bear (North Pole) & Camel (desert).
Camouflage
An animal’s ability to blend into its environment. The animal’s outer appearance makes it look like its environment.
Mimicry
The phenomenon whereby an animal’s appearance makes it look like another animal or object.
Bates mimicry
A harmless animal imitates a poisonous or bad-tasting animal for protection.
Mullerian mimicry
Two poisonous or bad-tasting animals mimic each other.
Automimicry
Animals of the same species mimic each other.
