Consumer Organizations

We explain what consumer organisms are and how they are classified. Also, some examples of these organisms.

Bear hunting - consumer organism
Consumer organisms feed on organic matter from other living beings.
Summary of Contents

What are consumer organisms?

Consumer organisms, also called heterotrophic organisms, are those unable to synthesize their nutrients from inorganic molecules and external energy sources as autotrophs do (through photosynthesis). Therefore, consumers must feed themselves by consuming organic matter from other living beings, to obtain energy from their digestion and decomposition.

In this way, when studying the trophic relationships of an ecosystem, we can distinguish between producer organisms (autotrophs, usually plants and/or algae) and consumer organisms, which can be of various types:

  • Herbivores. They are organisms that feed on the different parts and byproducts of plants and other autotrophic beings.
  • Carnivores. They are organisms that feed on the bodies of other animals (which can be herbivores or also carnivores). Depending on how they do it, they can be:
    • Predators. They are animals that hunt other animals to consume their meat, ending their lives to prolong their own.
    • Parasites. They are animals that feed on the bodies of other animals, without killing them, although causing damage in the process.
    • Omnivores. They are animals that feed on any type of organic matter.
  • Detritivores. They are organisms that feed on dead organic matter, that is, corpses, excrement, fallen leaves, etc. They are nature's recycling department. One type of detritivore is scavengers, which feed on the remains of hunting abandoned by predators.
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Primary consumers

Primary consumer - giraffe
Primary consumers serve as prey for the first level of predators.

The first rung on a trophic ladder is occupied by primary consumers, also called herbivores.

They are the ones who feed on the producing organisms and constitute the first link of consumers in the chain of transmission of matter and energy.

They serve as prey to the first level of predators, functioning as a bridge between the nutrients that plants synthesize through photosynthesis, and the rest of the meat-eating animals.

Secondary consumers

Secondary consumers - fox
Secondary consumers are considered small carnivores.

The first step of predators, that is, carnivores, is generally made up of animals that feed on animals.

In many ecosystems this is the link of small carnivores or also omnivorous animals, which feed on everything.

These, in turn, serve to transmit nutrients and matter to a higher level of predators, which feed on the flesh of smaller predators, as a larger fish does on a medium-sized fish.

Tertiary consumers

Tertiary consumers - owl
Tertiary consumers have a strictly carnivorous diet.

Tertiary consumers are often the end of the food chain, and are known as predators, that is, consumers that feed on primary and secondary consumers.

They have a strictly carnivorous diet, which keeps the growth of these populations at bay. In this category are snakes, hawks, owls, orca whales, wild dogs.

Quaternary consumers

Quaternary consumers - tiger
Quaternary consumers occupy the final position of the trophic pyramids.

Depending on the ecosystem, there may be quaternary consumers: creatures that feed on tertiary consumers and that occupy the final position (the top) of any form of trophic pyramid, that is, the final consumers or absolute predators.

African big cats, canids, birds of prey, sharks and other particularly voracious animal forms. Human beings are among them, since we do not have any type of natural predator (except, perhaps, ourselves).

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Examples of consumer organisms

Some simple examples of consumer organisms are:

  • Primary consumers. Giraffes, rabbits, squirrels, caterpillars, cows, rhinos, goats, herbivorous birds, zooplankton.
  • Secondary consumers. Foxes, spiders, praying mantises, opossums, seals and small hunting snakes.
  • Tertiary consumers. Anaconda snakes, hawks, owls, orca whales, wild dogs.
  • Quaternary consumers. Polar bears, lions, eagles, tigers, sharks, crocodiles, humans.

Continue with: Food chains

References

  • “Consumer (biology)” on Wikipedia.
  • “Trophic levels: producers, consumers and decomposers” in OVACEN.
  • “Functioning of an ecosystem” in Hypertexts of the Biology area.
  • “Food chains and food webs” in Khan Academy.
  • “Consumer organism” in Encyclopedia.com.
  • “Feed Me: Classifying Organisms” (video) on Crash Course Kids.
  • “Consumer (biology)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  • Biology: Solomon E., Berg L., Martin D. (2013) 9th Edition. Cengage Learning Publishing.
  • Ecology. Smith T and Smith R. (2007) 6to Edition. Pearson Education Publishing.

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