We explain what producer organisms are, their classification and examples. In addition, the consuming and decomposing organisms.
What are producer organisms?
Producing organisms, also called autotrophs (from the Greek car which means “by itself” and tropes which means “nutrition”), they are beings that produce their own food from inorganic substances like light, water and carbon dioxide, so they do not need other living beings to feed themselves.
Producing organisms keep the planet in balance because they are the main source of food and they provide all the nutrients to the primary consumers, generate oxygen and provide numerous gases that make up the atmosphere.
Examples of producer organisms
Some examples of producer organisms are:
- The colored bacteria.
- The grass.
- The weeping willow.
- The olive tree.
- The bushes.
- Coleochaete alga.
- Spirulina
- Some microorganisms.
Types of producer organisms
Producing organisms are classified into two types, according to the source of energy they use:
- Photosynthetics. They are the organisms that carry out the conversion of inorganic into organic matter through a process of synthesis of the energy provided by sunlight. This process is called photosynthesis. For example, plants that have chlorophyll such as asparagus, parsley.
- Chemosynthetics. They are the organisms that obtain energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds such as iron, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen. For example, nitrogen bacteria that come into contact with ammonia transform it into nitrates that can be used by plants.
Producing organisms are the initial link in the food chain, which is made up of three groups of organisms:
- The producers.
- The consumers.
- The decomposers.
Consumers
Primary consumer organisms feed on producer organisms.Consuming organisms, also called heterotrophs (from the Greek hetero which means “different” and trophos which means “nutrition”) they feed on organic matter, that is, of other plant and / or animal living beings. Within the food chain, consumer organisms are divided into:
- Primary consumers. They are herbivorous animals that feed on different parts of plants such as leaves, stems, roots, seeds or substances made by the plant. Some examples of primary consumers are goat, cow, cricket, sheep, bat, hummingbird, and gorilla.
- Secondary consumers. They are carnivorous animals that are classified into different types, such as predators (which hunt other animals), parasites (which feed on others, but without killing them) and scavengers (which feed on the remains of other animals). Examples of secondary consumers are the lion, the shark, the wolf, the polar bear and the dolphins.
- Tertiary consumers. Also called omnivores, they are animals that feed on secondary and primary consumers. For example, the piranha, the rat, the hedgehog, the human being, the dog, the seal, the panda, the raccoon, the hyena and the wild boar.
Decomposing organisms
Fungi are decomposing organisms that use energy from organic debris.Decomposers are those that harness the energy of decomposing organic matter, that is, the remains of plants and animals. These organisms convert the remains into inorganic energy that is then used by the producing organisms. Some examples of decomposing organisms are:
- The insects. For example: the aranea, acari and diptera.
- The bacteria. For example: azotobacter and pseudomonas.
- Mushrooms. For example: shiitake and water mold.