Energy Flow in a Ecosystem The ultimate source of energy is the Sun!
Transcript of Energy Flow in a Ecosystem The ultimate source of energy is the Sun!
Energy Flow in a Ecosystem
The ultimate source of energy is the Sun!
How does energy from the Sun enter the ecosystem?
• PHOTOSYNTHESIS - Plants use the Sun’s energy to make sugars.
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2
•Producer (autotroph) = makes its own food through photosynthesis (self-feeder). Ex: grasses, trees, flowering plants, algae
•100% of energy available
ENERGY IN
AN ECOSYSTEM
Where does energy made by the producer go?
• CELLULAR RESPIRATION - ingested food
is broken down into energy
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Producer (autotroph) = makes its own food through photosynthesis (self-feeder). Ex: grasses, trees, flowering plants, algae
•100% of energy available
eats producers and produces energy through cellular respiration
AKA - Herbivore = PLANT EATER (Ex: zebra, cow)•10% of energy available
ENERGY IN
AN ECOSYSTEM
Primary Consumer
(heterotroph) =
Producer (autotroph) = makes its own food through photosynthesis (self-feeder). Ex: grasses, trees, flowering plants, algae
•100% of energy available
eats producers, and produces energy through cellular respirationAKA - Herbivore = PLANT EATER (Ex: zebra, cow)
•10% of energy available
ENERGY IN
AN ECOSYSTEM
Primary Consumer (heterotroph) =
Secondary Consumer (heterotroph) = eats primary consumers (cellular respiration)
AKA: Carnivore=MEAT EATER (Ex: tiger, wolf ) Omnivore = PLANT & MEAT EATER (Ex:human, bear)
•1% of energy available
• Which teeth do you think are meat-eaters?
• Which teeth do you think are plant-eaters?
• What type of diet do the human teeth indicate?
Producer (autotroph) = makes its own food through photosynthesis (self-feeder). Ex: grasses, trees, flowering plants, algae
•100% of energy available
eats producers, and produces energy through cellular respirationAKA - Herbivore = PLANT EATER (Ex: rabbit, cow)
•10% of energy available
ENERGY IN AN ECOSYSTEM
Primary Consumer (heterotroph) =
Secondary Consumer (heterotroph) = eats primary consumers (cellular respiration)
AKA: Carnivore = MEAT EATER (Ex: snake, wolf ) OR Omnivore = PLANT & MEAT EATER (Ex: human, bear)
•1% of energy available
•0.1% of energy available
Tertiary Consumer (heterotroph) = eats secondary
consumers (Ex: owl, shark)
*May be the APEX PREDATOR (top of food chain)
Food Chains vs. Food Webs
• Food Chain = a sequence of energy transfer as each organism eats another organism.
Food Chains vs. Food Webs An ecosystem is more complex than a simple food
chain. Most organisms eat more than one type of food.
Food Web = a complex sequence of
energy transfer showing multiple
feeding relationships.
Energy pyramids show how each trophic level (step in a food chain) is supported by the previous level.
Why does the population decrease as the trophic
levels increases?
What about the dead stuff?
• Decomposers- Break down dead organisms in an ecosystem and return nutrients to the soil, water, and air Ex: mushroom, shrimp, bacteria
PRODUCERS (autotroph)
PRIMARY CONSUMER (heterotroph / herbivore)
SECONDARY CONSUMER (heterotroph / carnivore)
TERTIARY CONSUMER (heterotroph/carnivore)
100% of energy available
10% of energy available
1% of energy available
0.1% of energy available
ENERGY IN
AN ECOSYSTEM