Consumer Roles in Ecosystems Flashcards

Study Notes

Consumer Definitions and Roles

Consumers are organisms that derive energy by consuming other organisms.
Digestion is the process through which food is broken down into usable materials for energy.
Circulation is the movement of blood in a loop through the body, facilitating nutrient and energy distribution.

Energy from Food

Most consumers cannot produce their own food and rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients necessary for growth, movement, and maintenance.
The digestion process begins with the mouth, continues down the esophagus, and involves the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine for waste elimination.

Food Storage in Consumers

Consumers store excess energy in two main forms:
- Short-term as sugar in the blood.
- Long-term as fat in body tissues.
Examples of food storage include:
- Birds use fat reserves during migration.
- Whales rely on blubber for sustenance during long migrations.
- Bears accumulate fat to survive hibernation.

Waste Production and Recycling

Consumers produce waste because not all ingested material is digestible. Solid wastes are expelled, and gases like carbon dioxide are released during respiration.
Decomposing organic matter contributes to soil fertility and ecosystem health, recycling nutrients and energy back into the environment.
All living and once-living materials become part of the ecosystem's air, soil, and water.

Humans as Consumers

Humans are consumers like other animals, dependent on external food sources for energy.
The human digestion process breaks down food for energy use, essential for various bodily functions.
All energy utilized by humans originates from the sun, transferring through a food chain from producers to consumers.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Energy flow can be illustrated through a flowchart: the sun → producers (plants) → primary consumers (herbivores) → secondary consumers (carnivores).
Examples of energy transfer:
- The human consumes a cow, which consumes grass, with the grass obtaining energy from the sun.
- The sun ultimately drives energy production and sustains the food web within ecosystems.

Description

Explore the critical role of consumers in ecosystems through these informative flashcards. Learn key definitions related to consumer behavior, digestion, and circulation processes necessary for maintaining ecological balance. Perfect for anyone studying ecology or environmental science!