PD Modules
Using Media to Teach Energy and Matter in Ecosystems

The Players: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

As we’ve discussed, some species produce energy, some obtain energy by consuming others, and some get their energy at the cellular level by breaking down dead organisms and animal wastes.

Watch this video, which invites you to explore an underwater ecosystem and learn about the roles producers, consumers, and decomposers play in transferring energy through a coral reef. After you watch, try the Arrange It activity.

Keyboard Shortcut Action
Space Pause/Play video playback
Enter Pause/Play video playback
m Mute/Unmute video volume
Up and Down arrows Increase and decrease volume by 10%
Right and Left arrows Seek forward or backward by 5 seconds
0-9 Fast seek to x% of the video.
f Enter or exit fullscreen. (Note: To exit fullscreen in flash press the Esc key.
c Press c to toggle captions on or off

Video: Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem

Ecosystems contain a range of living species. Each fills a role with respect to energy transfer that helps the ecosystem function.

Let’s take the information and ideas from this video to support a modeling activity you could use with your students. First, you’ll sort each member of the coral reef ecosystem according to the role it plays. Then, you’ll apply your understanding of this concept to another ecosystem you know.

Directions:

  1. Drag the pre-labeled cards to the appropriate spaces in the top table under the Coral Reef ecosystem heading. 
  2. Create your own cards to represent another ecosystem of your choice: 
  • Identify your ecosystem in the heading. 
  • Add the names of organisms that live in your ecosystem—two for each role—and drag them to the appropriate spaces.