This section covers how plants act as primary producers by synthesising organic compounds that can be transferred to consumers.
Making organic compounds
Organisms need organic molecules both for respiration and for producing biological material. Important examples include carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.
Plants manufacture organic compounds during photosynthesis. The carbon incorporated into these molecules comes from carbon dioxide.
Land plants obtain carbon dioxide from the surrounding air.
Aquatic plants obtain carbon dioxide dissolved in the water around them.
Because plants can manufacture their own organic compounds, they act as primary producers. Photosynthetic producers are also described as autotrophs.
The organic material stored in producers can enter other organisms when plant tissue is eaten by consumers such as herbivores.