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Food Chains
Decomposers
Let’s Review!
Components of a Food Chain
2. PRODUCERS
1. SUN
3. CONSUMERS
4. DECOMPOSER
Types of Consumers
 Herbivores
are planteating
consumers
Types of Consumers
Carnivores
are meateating
consumers
Types of Consumers
 Omnivores
are
consumers
that eat both
plants and
animals.
Types of Consumers
 Scavengers
are consumers
that eat dead
plants or dead
animals
(carrion)
*Levels of Consumers

Primary (1°) Consumers = “first eaters”

Secondary (2°) Consumers = “second eaters”

Tertiary (3°) Consumers = “third eaters”
Quaternary
4° Consumer
Tertiary
3°Consumer
Secondary
2°Consumer
Primary
1°Consumer
Decomposers
Decomposers

Decomposers are
organisms that
break down the
cells of dead
material and recycle
the nutrients back
into the ecosystem
Decomposers
 Eventually
all
food chains end
in decomposers
e.g.mushrooms,
molds, yeast,
bacteria
Conditions that Promote
Decomposers





Warmth
Lots of air
Lots of food
Moisture (water)
Darkness
What is the difference between
Scavengers and Decomposers?

Scavengers eat dead material
that they find (they have mouths).
E.g. Vulture

Decomposers “break down”
the cells of dead material. E.g.
Mold