Ecosystems & Energy Flow

I. Energy is one of the most important parts of an ecosystem A. Almost all energy is contained in the plant or producer portion of an ecosystem B. Energy cannot be recycled C. There is no energy cycle only a flow

II. Energy Flow A. Producers can produce their own food (photosynthesizer etc...) B. Those that cannot are called consumers 1. Primary consumers get their energy directly from producers 2. Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary feed on other animals C. The flow is from sun producerconsumer decomposer http://www.bigelow.org/bacteria/land.jpg

Energy Flow (Cont.) Video Clip The energy steps are called trophic levels E. Only 10% of the energy of each trophic level is passed up!! Video Clip http://www.greenfacts.org/images/glossary/trophic-level1.jpg

III. Trophic Levels Primary Producers 1. Autotrophs 2. Plants or bacteria (usually photosynthsizers) 3. Ex. Oak, grass, bacteria, diatoms

Primary consumers Heterotrophs Herbivores 3. Ex. Deer, caterpillar (plant eaters) 3. Ex. Deer, caterpillar

C. Secondary Consumer 1. Heterotrophs Carnivores (herbivores are their prey) Ex. Wasp, Fish, Human

D. Tertiary Consumers Heterotrophs Carnivores (other carnivores are their prey) Ex. Eagle, spider

E. Detritivores Decomposers Scavengers 2. Feed off nonliving organic matter (dead stuff) 3. Obtain energy from “detritus”—the dead stuff 4. Ex. Maggots, fungi, bacteria Nature Works What Is Decomposition?

                                                  IV. Webs and Chains Arrows b/w trophic levels ALWAYS point to the consumer. Arrows SHOW the direction of energy flow. 10% of energy moves up the food chain to the next level. Food Chains and Food Webs

As you go up the trophic levels, organisms lose energy. An ecosystem can support more primary producers, than tertiary consumers.

D. Food Chains Trophic levels combined Shows only one route of energy flow

E. Food Webs Combination of several food chains Shows options of how energy could flow through an ecosystem Song

F. Feeding Relationships Food chains: simplistic, not realistic Food webs: more complex, more realistic Video clip Bill Nye -Food Webs http://www.bigelow.org/edhab/images/food_web.jpg

Great Lakes Food Webs MI Env. Ed. Curr. Our Waters

How Ecosystems Work United Streaming: Video Clips: “Web of Life: The Producer to Predator” “Biologically Speaking: Ecosystems & the Cycles of Nature”

Nutrients Cycles (Biogeochemical cycles) Water Nitrogen Carbon Phosphorous Sulfur **Unlike energy, are recycled in an ecosystem

1. Water Cycle

Hydrologic Cycle Vocabulary Precipitation – rain, sleet, snow, etc…(from clouds) Condensation – going from water vapor to liquid water in clouds Evaporation – from liquid water to vapor in the atmosphere (from bodies of water) Transpiration – evaporation from plants leaves (stomata) Infiltration – percolation or seeping of water into the soil

2. Nitrogen cycle Most organisms can’t use the nitrogen in the air Nitrogen fixing bacteria are key to the cycle Lightning plays a role in fixing nitrogen into a usable form too Nitrogen is a fertilizer for plants 79% of the air is made of nitrogen http://www.rogers.k12.ar.us/users/ehutches/nitrogen_cycle1.gif

Another example …

3. Carbon cycle c. Unbalanced a. Moves from plants to animals to decomposer and back to animals again b. Involves: Respiration (breathing of animals) Combustion (burning) Photosynthesis (uses CO2 and converts to oxygen) c. Unbalanced http://www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/images/carboncycle_sm.jpg

Carbon Levels & Global Temperatures Unbalanced

Carbon Levels & Global Temperatures

Phosphorous Cycle

Sulfur Cycle