Did You Know? �  There are some microorganisms that eat other

plants or animals. Some microorganisms eat both plants and animals.

Microorganisms (Microbe)

Objective: Describe how some microorganisms (microbe) act like

producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Review

�  Over 99% of microorganisms/microbes benefit us and other living organisms. n Live in every environment on earth n Human digestion depends upon them n  Important to the food industry and the

productions of many products n Milk into yogurt/buttermilk/sour cream/cheese n Helps make chocolate, bread products, tea…

n Help with wastewater and oil spill cleanup

�  A small minority cause disease.

“Like Producers”

(Plants)

“Like Consumers”

(Carnivores)

“Like Producers & Consumers (Omnivores)

“Like Decomposers”

4 Categories of Microorganisms

Microorganisms (Microbe)

“Like Producers” (Plants)

• Algae – type of protist

• Carry out photosynthesis

• Lives in Ponds & ocean

“Like Consumers” (Carnivores)

• Amoeba – type of protist that acts like an animal in most ways.

• Moves to get food – flows its body in one direction all around the food until it surrounds it

• Lives in freshwater & saltwater/soil & as parasites in moist body parts of animals

“Like Producers & Consumers (Omnivores)

• Euglena – type of protist

• Carries out photosynthesis in bright sunlight & uses tail to find food in the dark

• Llives in Ponds & streams

“Like Decomposers”

• Fungi – type of decomposer that work over time & results in rotting. Mold – type of fungi that grows on food. Bacteria-take over consumes different nutrient in the dead matter & change it into something new

• breaks down dead matter

• Lives in soil, trees, food

ALGAE (protists)

�  Found in fresh and salt water environments

�  Can live on rocks, trees, and in soils with enough moisture

�  Can carry on photosynthesis – produce large amount of oxygen

Fungi �  Single celled as yeast or multicellular clusters as molds &

mushrooms

�  Grow best in slightly acidic environment – can grow in low moisture

�  Live in soil, on plants & animals, in fresh & salt water

�  Baker’s yeast for bread and brewing, some are used for antibiotics, others serve as decomposers

�  Some cause disease in humans, animals and plants – ruin ¼ to ½ of fruits & vegetables per year

Animal-like Protists Amoeba

�  Hunt other microbes for food

�  Mainly feed on bacteria

�  Digest food in digestive organelles

�  Most are not harmful

Closure

�  What is our learning objective?

�  What are the 4 categories of microorganisms.

�  Describe how some microbes act like �  Producers �  Consumers

�  decomposers

“Like Producers”

(Plants)

“Like Consumers”

(Carnivores)

“Like Producers & Consumers (Omnivores)

“Like Decomposers”

4 Categories of Microorganisms