Energy flow in an ecosystem Ecology Part 1 Energy flow in an ecosystem

Organization of the biosphere Biosphere = the volume of the earth and atmosphere that supports life Ecosystem = organisms and the non-living environment in a particular place Community = all the interacting organisms living in an area Population = all the members of a single species that live in one place Organism = an individual member of a species

Other Factors That Affect the Ecosystem Biotic factors – living components of the environment Abiotic factors- non-living factors (rocks, water, air)

Levels of Organization

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Autotrophs- organisms that produce their own energy (Producers) Heterotrophs- organisms that cannot produce their own energy. (Consumers) Types of Consumers: Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers In each ecosystem there is a delicate balance between the numbers of producers and the number and types of consumers.

Trophic Levels A trophic level describes how energy flows through an ecosystem The 1st level = Producers The 2nd level = herbivores The 3rd level = secondary consumer (carnivores, omnivores) Each level may contain detritivors (decomposers)

Trophic Levels Food Chain Food Web video

Food Chain in an Antarctic Ecosystem

Food Web in an Antarctic Ecosystem

Grassland Food Web

Energy Pyramid An energy pyramid is a diagram in which each trophic level is represented by a block, and the blocks are stacked on top of one another, with the lowest trophic level on the bottom. The width of each block is determined by the amount of energy stored in the organisms at that trophic level. Because the energy stored by the organisms at each trophic level is about one-tenth the energy stored by the organisms in the level below, the diagram takes the shape of a pyramid.

Energy Transfer Through Trophic Levels