Question

Name and describe the roles of the three main trophic categories that make up the biotic structure of every ecosystem. Give examples of organisms from each category.

Short answer

The three main trophic categories in an ecosystem are producers (e.g. plants), consumers (e.g. cows and lions), and decomposers (e.g. mushrooms and bacteria).

Step-by-step solution

Define and give examples of producers

Producers, also known as autotrophs, are organisms that produce organic compounds like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from inorganic materials, generally using energy from sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. Examples of producers include plants like grass, trees, and algae.

Define and give examples of consumers

Consumers, also known as heterotrophs, are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms or their byproducts. Consumers can be classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary based on what they eat. Primary consumers, like zebras and cows, eat producers. Secondary and tertiary consumers, such as lions and sharks, eat primary consumers and other consumers respectively.

Define and give examples of decomposers

Decomposers, also known as saprotrophs, are organisms that break down organic material from dead or decaying organisms, returning essential nutrients to the environment and completing the cycle. Examples of decomposers include bacteria, fungi such as mushrooms, and animals like earthworms and vultures.