consumer

biology

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In zoology: Ecology
Animals are called consumers because they ingest plant material or other animals that feed on plants, using the energy stored in this food to sustain themselves. Lastly, the organisms known as decomposers, mostly fungi and bacteria, break down plant and animal material and return it to the environment…
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In inland water ecosystem: Population and community development and structure
levels—primary producers (algae and macrophytes), consumers (animals), and decomposers (bacteria, fungi, small invertebrates)—that are interconnected by a complex web of links. Energy passes through these trophic levels primarily along the grazer and detrital chains and is progressively degraded to heat through metabolic activities. Meanwhile, the essential elements follow pathways that…
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