Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Pyramids copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Begins with the SUN Photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2 copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Organisms that can make energy during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS or AUTOTROPHS. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Producers are the largest trophic level. There are more producers than any other level on the energy pyramid. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms that cannot make their own energy. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Only TEN PERCENT of energy is transferred from one level to the next. This is called the Ten Percent Rule! The rest of that energy is lost to the environment as heat. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called CONSUMERS or HETEROTROPHS. copyright cmassengale
Consumers that eat producers to get energy: Are first order (1st) or primary consumers Are herbivores (plant-eaters) copyright cmassengale
Consumers that eat producers & other consumers Are called omnivores Omnivores eat plants and animals copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale A consumer that eats a primary consumer is called a second order or secondary consumer. Ex. A beetle eats a blade of grass and a lizard eats the beetle. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Consumers that hunt & kill other consumers are called predators. The animals that are hunted & killed are called prey. copyright cmassengale
Consumers that eat other dead consumers are called scavengers copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Microscopic bacteria and fungi that live in the soil and break down dead and decaying matter are called DECOMPOSERS. They are at the bottom of the food chain. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale The transfer of energy from the sun to producer to primary consumer then to higher order consumers can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale More Food Chains copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Energy moves in ONE DIRECTION, from organism being eaten to the organism eating it. Sometimes food chains overlap, and this is called a FOOD WEB. FOOD WEBS show how plants and animals are connected in many ways to help them all survive. FOOD CHAINS follow just one path as animals find food. copyright cmassengale
How Many Chains are in this web? copyright cmassengale
Food Chains Show Available Energy copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale 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 copyright cmassengale
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copyright cmassengale Food Webs: Are interconnected food chains They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem copyright cmassengale
Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers: Count the Food Chains! copyright cmassengale
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