Autotroph An organism that generates its own

food to be used as energy.

Word Definition

Example

Phytoplankton(Marine Plants)

Terrestrial Plants

PlantsEtymology (word origin)

Auto- = myselftroph = food

Heterotroph An organism that consumes other

organisms for energy.

Word Definition

Example

Mammals Insects

AnimalsEtymology (word origin)

Hetero- = other-troph = food

Omnivore An organism that

consumes both plant and animal matter.

Word Definition

Example

BearsEtymology (word origin)

Omni-= all-vore = devour, eat

CarnivoreAn organism that consumes mostly

animal matter.

Word Definition

Example

LeopardEtymology (word origin)

Carni- = meat-vore = devour, eat

HerbivoreAn organism that consumes mostly

plant matter.

Word Definition

Example

ElephantsEtymology (word origin)

Herb- = plant-vore = devour, eat

Scavenger An organism that

feeds mostly on the abandoned remains of other organisms.

Word Definition

Example

Hyenas Etymoloagy (word origin)

From the word scawegeor , whichaa

describes “a person hired to remove waste from

the streets.”

DetritivoreAn organism that feeds mostly consumes dead organic matter like soil

Word Definition

Example

WormsEtymology (word origin)

Detri- = dead matter-vore = devour, eat

DecomposerAn organism that

breaks down organic matter to absorb

nutrients.

Word Definition

Example

Fungi BacteriaEtymology (word origin)

De- = reverse-composer = one who

combines or puts together

PredatorAn organism that

forages by hunting other organisms.

Word Definition

Example

Killer WhaleEtymoloagy (word origin)

From the word praedator meaning

“plunderer.”

PreyAn organism that is

hunted and consumed by a

predator.

Word Definition

Example

SealEtymoloagy (word origin)

From the word preie meaning “animal hunted for food.”

ProducersA group of

organisms that begin a food web or chain

by supplying the initial energy.

Word Definition

Example

Phytoplankton(Marine Plants)

Terrestrial Plants

PlantsEtymology (word origin)

Pro- = before, first-ducer = to bring

Consumers

A group of organisms in a food web or food chain

that must eat other organism for energy.

Word Definition

Example

con- = together-sumer = take up