Roles of Organisms in Ecosystems

What energy role describes an organism that makes its own food, usually by using energy from the sun?

• consumer
• producer
• carnivore
• decomposer

What energy role describes an organism that cannot make its own food and therefore gets energy by eating other organisms?

• consumer
• producer
• autotroph
• sunlight

All of the following are types of consumers EXCEPT for

• carnivore
• herbivore
• omnivore
• producer

Consumers that eat only meat are called

• decomposers
• herbivores
• carnivores
• omnivores

Herbivores eat

• meat only
• plants only
• both meat and plants
• freshly dead organisms

Omnivores eat

• meat only
• plants only
• both meat and plants
• freshly dead organisms

Carnivores that eat freshly dead organisms are

• herbivores
• decomposers
• omnivores
• scavengers

These organisms break down decaying biotic wastes and then return the materials to the ecosystem.

• decomposers
• scavengers
• carnivores
• producers

Great white sharks eat fish, rays, and other sharks. This energy role is

• producer
• omnivore
• scavenger
• carnivore

Earthworms eat decaying living material in the soil, and then return that energy to the ecosystem. This energy role is

• decomposer
• autotroph
• herbivore
• omnivore