Chapter 4 & 5: Energy Flow Ecosystems  Everything is connected. Remember an ecosystem is all the living and non-living factors and how they interact with each other. Examples of special ecosystems: – Forests-oceans-rainforests – Saltmarshes-swamps-tide pools – Back yards-caves-flood plains

Vocabulary Organism: Living things Species: A group of organisms that are genetically able to reproduce. Have common traits and characteristics. Populations : Members of a species that all live in the same place and are able to interact. Communities: a group of different species all living in the same space. ONLY BIOTIC Habitat : Place the organism lives includes food, water, shelter and space. Environment : The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.

Energy Flow In A System Energy flow in a system begins with the Sun Photosynthesis is the process where a plant takes radiant energy from the sun and uses it to chemically make “food” or sugar

Cellular Respiration The opposite of photosynthesis Cells release stored energy in food by breaking chemical bonds and releasing that stored energy from the sun.

This Energy is Stored in Food and Begins the Food Chain Producers: organisms that trap energy from the sun: plants, algae and bacteria Consumers: get energy by eating producers. Examples are mice, deer, birds, ants, humans etc. There are many levels of consumers: 1) Primary consumers: eats producers 2) Secondary consumers: eats primary consumers 3) Tertiary consumers: eats secondary, etc. *There could be more levels but after the tertiary level, energy is virtually zero.

More Food Web Terminology Decomposer : organism that breaks down dead organisms in an ecosystem and returns nutrients to the soil, water and air.

And More… Herbivore: Eats producers/plants – Examples: Deer, birds, grasshoppers, moose Carnivore : Eats other consumers – Examples: Coyotes, bobcats, owls, hawks, snakes, spiders, wolves Omnivores : Eats both producers and consumers – Examples: Bears, rats, raccoons, humans Autotroph : These are the “producers” in a food chain. They make their own food through light or chemical energy. Heterotroph: These are the “consumers” in a food chain. They must eat another autotroph or heterotroph to obtain energy.

Simple Food Chain Food Chain: The sequence of the transfer of food energy from one organism to another in an ecological community.

Forest Ecosystem Food Web Food Web: A food web is many food chains linked together to show a more accurate model of all possible feeding relationships of organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Webs and Trophic Level Trophic Levels: Each step through which energy is transferred in a food chain. Each time an organism consumes another, energy exits the system as heat during cellular respiration, so less energy is available at the next level. Only 10% of what the organism below ate is available at the next level. That means 90% of the energy was used!

Energy Pyramid & Trophic Levels Trophic Level 4 Trophic Level 3 Trophic Level 2 Trophic Level 1

Subtract 90%

Food Web Activity You will be creating a food web of various organisms in New Hampshire. What you need: – 1 copy of the directions and questions – 1 copy of the animal pictures – 1 large piece of paper – Glue or tape – Colorful Marker/Colored Pencils

BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION Biological magnification: Process by which toxic chemicals enter into a system and are taken up by organisms. At each trophic level the chemicals are passed along in greater concentrations due to the fact that upper trophic levels need to eat more organisms to gain their needed energy Because of this, top feeders have higher levels of heavy metals and pesticides. Examples: Tuna, Swordfish, Shark, Chilean Seabass, etc.

Mercury in Our Environment Mercury bio accumulates in the environment Number one source is burning coal – Power plants – Industry Once incinerated, the mercury in the air contaminates rain water which falls into major water bodies.

Other sources include:  Mining  Agriculture  Urban

Lead in our Environment Lead pollution primarily came from cars in the past because gas used to have lead in it. Today, lead pollution primarily comes from lead smelters, metal processing plants and incinerators. Lead was also used in a lot of paints due to its low cost. How does Lead Pollution affect the body? Lead in the body can damage internal organs Lead can also damage the brain and nervous system In a long term scenario, it can cause reproductive disorders and/or osteoporosis Enough lead in the body will be fatal

PCB’s (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) Another toxin that was used in electrical insulators, capacitors, and electric appliances such as television sets or refrigerators. PCBs were also sprayed on dirt roads to keep the dust down prior to knowing some of the unintended consequences from widespread use. Banned in the U.S. in 1979 How does PCB pollution affect the body? PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals. PCBs have also been shown to cause a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, and nervous system.

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) DDT was first developed as an insecticide in the 1940s. It was used to combat malaria and typhus, along with other insect-borne diseases. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 60s when the USDA finally began prohibiting use of DDT. This was because its effects as an insecticide were declining since insects were becoming resistant to it. It also had been linked to adverse health effects in wildlife and humans, as well as harming the environment.

Rachel Carson and Silent Spring Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist. In 1962, she wrote a book called Silent Spring which brought mounting awareness to the issue of pesticide use and its harm on the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wasn’t developed until 1970, directly because of the actions of Rachel Carson. Just two year later, the EPA officially banned the use of DDT in the United States.

How it Becomes Concentrated

Top Trophic Level Consumers