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  • 消费者和分解者

    A decaying leaf on the ground, showcasing the decomposition process by fungi and bacteria.

    What is breaking down this leaf?
    ::这叶子是什么破碎的?

    Notice how this leaf is slowly being broken down. This process can be carried out by and bacteria on the ground. Breaking down old leaves is an important process since it releases the nutrients in the dead leaves back into the soil for living plants to use.
    ::注意这个叶子是如何慢慢被分解的。 这个过程可以由地面和细菌来进行。 拆掉旧叶子是一个重要过程,因为它将枯叶中的养分释放回土壤,供活植物使用。

    Consumers and Decomposers
    ::消费者和分解者

    Recall that make their own food through . But many organisms are not producers and cannot make their own food. So how do these organisms obtain their energy ? They must get their energy from other organisms. They must eat other organisms, or obtain their energy from these organisms some other way. The organisms that obtain their energy from other organisms are called consumers . All animals are consumers, and they eat other organisms. Fungi and many protists and bacteria are also consumers. But, whereas animals eat other organisms, fungi, protists, and bacteria "consume" organisms through different methods.
    ::以自己的食物为食。但许多生物不是生产者,不能自己做饭。这些生物是如何获得能量的?它们必须从其他生物中获取能量的。它们必须吃其他生物,或从这些生物中获取能量的。从其他生物中获取能量的有机体被称为消费者。所有动物都是消费者,它们也吃其他生物体。真菌和许多原生生物和细菌也是消费者。但是,动物通过不同的方法食用其他生物体、真菌、原生生物和细菌“繁殖”生物体。

    The consumers can be placed into different groups, depending on what they consume.
    ::视消费者消费多少,他们可以分为不同的群体。

    • Herbivores are animals that eat producers to get energy. For example, rabbits and deer are herbivores that eat plants. The caterpillar pictured below ( Figure ) is a herbivore. Animals that eat phytoplankton in environments are also herbivores.
      ::例如,兔子和鹿是食用植物的食用植物的食用植物。下面的毛虫(图)是食用植物的食用动物。在环境中食用浮游植物的动物也是食用植物的食用动物。
    • Carnivores feed on animals, either herbivores or other carnivores. Snakes that eat mice are carnivores. Hawks that eat snakes are also carnivores ( Figure ).
      ::食鼠蛇是食肉动物。 吃蛇的鹰也是食肉动物(图)。
    • Omnivores eat both producers and consumers. Most people are omnivores, since they eat fruits , vegetables, and grains from plants, and also meat and dairy products from animals. Dogs, bears, and raccoons are also omnivores.
      ::全食动物既吃生产者也吃消费者。 大多数人都是全食动物,因为他们吃植物的水果、蔬菜和谷物,以及动物的肉类和奶制品。 狗、熊和浣熊也是全食动物。

    A caterpillar (a) and a hawk (b), representing herbivores and carnivores.

    Examples of consumers are caterpillars (herbivores) and hawks (carnivore).
    ::消费者的例子有毛虫和鹰。

    Decomposers and Stability
    ::分解者和稳定

    Decomposers ( Figure ) get nutrients and energy by breaking down dead organisms and animal wastes. Through this process, decomposers release nutrients, such as carbon and nitrogen, back into the environment. These nutrients are recycled back into the so that the producers can use them. They are passed to other organisms when they are eaten or consumed. Many of these nutrients are recycled back into the soil, so they can be taken up by the roots of plants.
    ::分解者( Figure) 通过分解死亡生物和动物废物获得养分和能量。 通过这一过程, 分解者将养分( 如碳和氮) 释放回环境中。 这些养分被回收回生产者可以使用这些养分。 当这些养分被食用或食用时, 这些养分被传递到其他生物中。 许多这些养分被回收回土壤中, 以便被植物的根部吸收 。

    The stability of an ecosystem depends on the actions of the decomposers. Examples of decomposers include mushrooms on a decaying log. Bacteria in the soil are also decomposers. Imagine what would happen if there were no decomposers. Wastes and the remains of dead organisms would pile up and the nutrients within the waste and dead organisms would not be released back into the ecosystem. Producers would not have enough nutrients. The carbon and nitrogen necessary to build , and then cells , allowing an organism to grow, would be insufficient. Other nutrients necessary for an organism to function properly would also not be sufficient. Essentially, many organisms could not exist.
    ::生态系统的稳定取决于分解者的行动。分解者的例子包括腐烂原木上的蘑菇。土壤中的细菌也是分解者。想象一下如果没有分解者,会发生什么情况。如果没有分解者,废物和死亡生物的残骸就会堆积起来,废物和死亡生物体内的养分和死亡生物不会被放回生态系统。生产者将没有足够的养分。建造必要的碳和氮,然后细胞,允许生物体生长,是不够的。生物体正常运转所需的其他养分也是不够的。基本上,许多生物不可能存在。

    Microscopic bacteria and fungi on decaying log, showcasing decomposers in ecosystems.

    Examples of decomposers are (a) bacteria and (b) fungi.
    ::分解者的例子有sada)细菌和(b)真菌。

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Consumers must obtain their nutrients and energy by eating other organisms.
      ::消费者必须通过食用其他生物获得养分和能量。
    • Decomposers break down animal remains and wastes to get energy.
      ::分解器分解动物残骸和废物以获取能量。
    • Decomposers are essential for the stability and survival of an ecosystem.
      ::分解者对于生态系统的稳定与生存至关重要。

    Explore More
    ::探索更多

    Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
    ::利用以下资源回答以下问题。

    • Decomposers at (3:19)
      ::3: 19时拆解器
    1. What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem? What is the source of the matter which is decomposed?
      ::分解者在生态系统中的作用是什么?分解问题的根源是什么?
    2. How do the actions of earthworms improve soil quality? How does this impact the amount of biomass an ecosystem can support?
      ::蚯蚓的行动如何改善土壤质量?这如何影响生态系统能够支持的生物量数量?
    3. How do gastropods function as decomposers?
      ::胃道如何发挥分解作用?

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What is a consumer?
      ::什么是消费者?
    2. What’s the term for a consumer that eats both leaves and fish?
      ::对于既吃树叶又吃鱼的消费者来说,
    3. What are the different types of consumers?
      ::不同类型的消费者是什么?
    4. Why are decomposers important in the ecosystem?
      ::为什么分解者在生态系统中很重要?