Ecological Pryamids and Energy Flow

Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID

How Many Food Chains are in this Food Web?

Trophic Level  The sun is the ultimate source of energy for all organisms!!!!

Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID

Energy Pyramids Show  Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumers  Amount of available energy decreases down the food chain  It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers  It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers

Ecological Pyramids: Show the Amount of Matter or Energy in an Ecosystem 1.Pyramid of numbers: shows how many individuals are required to support the next level of feeding. 2.Usually does not illustrate the actual amount of organism mass (stored energy) that is transferred through each feeding level. 6 birds 1,000,000 insects 1 tree An inverted numbers pyramid

Energy Pyramid: Total Energy Available at Each Level 1. Energy pyramid: shows amount of energy available at each level 2. Shows that about 90% of the energy is lost as heat ~ 10% is transferred to the next level 10 Kcal: Humans 100 Kcal: perch 1,000 Kcal: zooplankton 10,000 Kcal: plankton Note: only ~ 10% of the energy is transferred to the next level!

Food Chains Show the Transfer of Energy 1. Food Chains: show the transfer of energy through a series organisms – ENERGY FLOWS IN ONE DIRECTION! 2. 10% rule: typically only 10% of the energy at one level is transferred to the next level  Energy is used by organisms for cell processes, respiration, capturing prey, and reproduction  Explains why most food chains don’t have more than 4 or 5 trophic levels 10,000 kcal 1,000 kcal 100 kcal 10 kcal

Biomass Pyramid: Total Living Material at Each Level 1.Biomass: amount of living tissue 2.Gives the amount of living tissue at each trophic level 3.Represents the amount of food available in each trophic level in an ecosystem. 600 kg 50 kg 4 kg 0.8 kg

EOC Practice  How much energy would be available to the organisms in level C? An energy pyramid is represented below. Which way does energy flow in an ecosystem? From sun to producers (base) to consumers (above). Which level has the most energy? A Which level has the least energy? D Correct answer: C A. all of the energy in level A, plus the energy in level B B. all of the energy in level A, minus the energy in level B C. a percentage of the energy contained in level B D. a percentage of the energy synthesized in level B and level D