Energy Flow in an Ecosystem 1

__Food Chain_- a diagram that shows how energy flows from 1 organism to the next 2

Food Web- a complex diagram that shows the many energy pathways in a real ecosystem (more accurate than food chain) 3

Food Web 4

Food Web Interactions Producers (Autotrophs) – organisms that manufacture their own food (carry out photosynthesis) Producers (Autotrophs) – organisms that manufacture their own food (carry out photosynthesis) Consumers (Heterotrophs) – eat other organisms 1. Primary consumers – herbivores (eat plants) 2. Secondary consumers – consumers that feed on primary 2. Secondary consumers – consumers that feed on primary consumers consumers 3. Tertiary consumers – carnivores that feed on the secondary consumers secondary consumers 4. Quarternary Consumers- top order consumers - food chains and food webs rarely extend beyond a quarternary consumer because energy is lost quarternary consumer because energy is lost Decomposers – organisms that decay or breakdown organic wastes and dead organisms into simpler substances (ex. bacteria, fungi) Decomposers – organisms that decay or breakdown organic wastes and dead organisms into simpler substances (ex. bacteria, fungi) ** Decomposers return chemical substances to the environment for reuse – they may not be drawn into a food web, but they are understood to be there)** 5

Energy Pyramid  Energy Pyramid  Energy Pyramid - shows the loss of energy at each level of the food chain 6 Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumer Top Order Consumer Biomass decreases as you climb the pyramid Energy decreases as you climb the pyramid

Pyramid Facts Energy Pyramid: Only 10% of ingested nutrients are available for energy for the next feeding level  90% is lost as heat energy Eventually, the energy in an ecosystem is lost, so it must have a constant input of energy from the sun. Eventually, the energy in an ecosystem is lost, so it must have a constant input of energy from the sun. Rule of 10’s = Only 10% of energy is passed on to each level of the pyramid. - the decrease of energy at each successive feeding level means that less biomass can be supported at each level. Biomass Pyramid - the decrease of energy at each successive feeding level means that less biomass can be supported at each level.  biomass = biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms 7

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10 Warbler Niches Habitat – the environment in which an organism lives Habitat – the environment in which an organism lives

11 Competition - occurs when different species living in the same habitat use the same limited resources such as food, space, water, etc. If two or more groups have the exact same role in the ecosystem, then they are said to share the same NICHE. Niche – the role (job) of the organism During competition, a species may be eliminated - this usually establishes one species per niche

12 Carrying Capacity- the largest population that a given environment can support over long periods of time  When a population grows larger than its carrying capacity, limiting factors cause the population to get smaller

13 Limiting Factors- environment contains only so much food, water, & nutrients, when one of these resources become scarce, it is said to be a limiting factor __Competition_ - two or more species or individuals competing for the same limited resource

Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity 14

Human Population Growth 15 What factors have contributed to this exponential growth?

16 Predators & Prey- _Prey_- organism that is eaten Predator - organism that eats prey