WILDLIFETrophic (Feeding) Levels

PRODUCERS Make or produce their own food (through

Photosynthesis).

Examples: trees, plants, flowers

AUTOTROPHS Self-Feeders – produce their own food. Another name for producer.

Examples: trees, plants, flowers

CONSUMERS Organisms that feed on other organisms.

Examples: any animal.

HETEROTROPHS Other Feeders – Another name for

consumers.

Examples: any animal.

HERBIVORES Plant-eaters - animals that feed directly on

producers.

Examples: deer, rabbits, cattle, mice.

CARNIVORES Flesh-eaters – animals that eat other

animals.

Examples: Wolves, Polar Bears, Eagles, Mountain Lion, Sharks.

1ST ORDER CARNIVORES Carnivores that feed on herbivores.

Examples: Wolf that eats a deer. Fox that eats a mouse.

2ND ORDER CARNIVORES Carnivores that feed on first-order carnivores.

Examples: Mountain lion that eats a fox. Bears that eat trout.

OMNIVORES All-eaters – Eat both plants and animals

(herbivores & carnivores).

Examples: Red fox, ground squirrel.

PREDATORS Carnivores which feed on live animals.

Examples: Owl, tiger, lion, wolf.

PREY The animals that are eaten by predators.

Examples: rabbits, deer, mice, frogs, birds.

SCAVENGERS Animals which feed on dead organisms (both

plants and animal).

Examples: snails, crayfish, crows, vultures.

SAPROPHYTES Fungi and bacteria which feed on dead

organisms.

Examples: fungi, bacteria.

DECOMPOSERS Organisms which break down (decompose)

and feed on non-living organic matter such as dead plants, dead animals, and animal wastes.

Examples: yeasts, molds

FOOD CHAIN Organisms linked together in Feeding

Relationships

Example: Grass mouse fox mountain lion

FOOD WEB Interconnected Food Chains

FOOD WEB