Energy in Ecosystems

Food Chains Food Chain What do food chains show? What do the arrows represent? A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy. Food chains show the transfer of energy in an ecosystem The arrows represent the transfer of energy.

Almost all Food Chains start with the sun What do food chains start with? What type of organism is after the sun? Describe photosynthesis. Almost all Food Chains start with the sun After the sun is an organism that can do photosynthesis. Like plants and phytoplankton. Sunlight + Carbon Dioxide + Water = Energy This process is called Photosynthesis

Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird → mushroom Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture Sun → seeds →grasshopper→ mouse → hawk Sample food chains:

The fly is eaten by the thrush. Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten and the direction that energy is travelling. The fly is eaten by the thrush.

The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit. Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten and the direction that energy is travelling. The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit.

The lettuce is eaten by the slug, the slug is eaten by the bird.

Video Clip

Producers An organism that can make its own food , through a process called photosynthesis. Producers are the source of all food in an ecosystem. Without producers there is no food chain. Flowers Phytoplankton Tree

Two major groups of decomposers are: Bacteria Fungi. Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment. Two major groups of decomposers are: Bacteria Fungi. Decomposer Video Clip

fungus bacteria Donut Decomposition Rabbit decomposition time-lapse

Consumers 3 types of Consumers An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. Ex: Deer, Humans, Snakes, Bat, Cat, Hippopotamus, Cricket, Rabbit Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivores

A Basic Food Chain Plants absorb light from the sun, which is turned into energy to grow. We call these producers. The vegetarian animals eat the plants, they are called primary consumers. Secondary consumers prey on primary consumers.

Sun Producer Primary Secondary Tertiary Consumer Consumer Consumer

Pair Share Partner A: Look to your partner and tell them the 3 types of energy levels? Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a producer and give an example. Partner A: Look at your partner and describe a consumer and give an example. Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a decomposer and give an example.

Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug producer 1 consumer 2 consumer →bird → mushroom 3 consumer Decomposer Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture produce 1 consumer 2 consumer 3 con Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse → producer 1 consumer 2 consumer hawk 3 consumer Video Clip 2 /Prod/Cons Video Sample food chains with energy roles labeled:

Carnivores 3 types of consumers Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Consumers that eat ONLY other consumers. ( Meat -Eaters) Ex: T-rex, Tigers, Lions, Ladybugs, Spiders.

Herbivores Herbivores are consumers that eat only producers. (plant eaters) Ex: Butterflies, deer, elephants, giraffes, rabbit.

Omnivores Consumers that eat BOTH consumers and producers. (both meat eaters and plant eaters) Ex. Humans, Bearded Dragons, Turtles, Bears.

Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug producer 1 consumer 2 consumer herbivore Carnivore →bird → mushroom 3 consumer Decomposer Omnivore Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture produce 1 consumer 2 con 3 con herbivore carnivore carnivore Sample food chains with energy roles labeled:

Omnivore: A pig eats fruit, eggs, corn, and earthworms.

Carnivore/ Insectivore: A frog eats insects, earthworms, and spiders.

Herbivore: eats grass, leaves, twigs, and shrub

Omnivore: A raccoon eats almost anything including berries, acorns, baby mice, baby birds & eggs, frogs, fish, and even some snakes.

Carnivore/Insectivore : Spiders eat insects.

Herbivore: A giraffe lives in Africa and eats leaves from trees Herbivore: A giraffe lives in Africa and eats leaves from trees. A giraffe may eat 75 pounds of food each day.

Carnivore: A wolf eats deer, dogs, fish, mice, moose, birds, and other herbivores.

Herbivore: Rabbits eat grasses, weeds, leaves, shoots, twigs, and bark.

Carnivore: Lions eat other animals such as gazelles, antelopes, and zebras.

Herbivore: Sheep eat grass and hay.

Carnivore: Eagles eat fish, mammals, birds, and snakes. They love fish!

Herbivore: eats grass and hay

Herbivore: eats corn, twigs, shoots, acorns, fruit, berries, green plants

Omnivore: A grizzly bear usually eat things such as grasses, roots, berries, insects, fish, and small and large mammals.

Humans are omnivores!

Herbivore: eat 150 pounds of plants each day

Scavengers are animals that eat dead animals Scavengers open up animal bodies so they can eat them.

Pair Share Partner A: Look to your partner and tell them the 3 types of Consumers? Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a herbivore and give an example. Partner A: Look at your partner and describe a omnivore and give an example. Partner B: Look at your partner and describe a carnivore and give an example.

Food Webs A Food Web consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. It better represents the transfer of energy than a food chain.

Pair Share Partner A tell your partner what a food web is. Partner B explain the difference between a food web and a food chain.

Energy Pyramids

Energy Pyramid An Energy Pyramid shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web. The most energy is at the producer level. At each level there is less available energy. Energy Pyramid Video Clip

Law of Conservation The law of conservation of energy is a law of science that states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Energy can only be changed from one form to another or transferred from one object to another. So if each trophic level has less available energy, where does this energy go if it can not be destroyed?

An energy pyramid from the Andrews 1 Kcal 3rd level consumers mostly carnivores & some omnivores 10 Kcal 2nd level consumer carnivores & omnivores 100 Kcal 1st level consumer herbivores 1000 Kcal Producers: green plants make their own energy from sunlight 10,000 Kcal

Pair Share Discuss with your partner what a energy pyramid is. Where does the energy go when it leaves the food chain?