Topic #3: Movement of Energy How does energy move through the trophic levels?

Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors Biotic – living things Abiotic – non living things/conditions

Do Abiotic Factors Affect Biotic factors? Yes! Both are necessary to the survival of every organism! Plants need sun & water Fish need correct salinity & water temp Peppered moths were affected by pollution

Niche The role an organism plays in its environment This is how it meets its needs Example: A wrasse’s niche is to clean inside the mouth of large groupers

Creating a Food Chain Using the cards you’ve been given, create a food chain that includes 5 cards.

A food chain is a model that shows how energy flows through an ecosystem Links species by feeding relationships DESERT COTTONTAIL GRAMA GRASS HARRIS’S HAWK

Divide all of your cards into 2 categories: Producers & Consumers Can you break down the cards even further?

Producers (autotrophs) – make their own food through photosynthesis

Consumers are not all alike. Herbivores eat only plants. Carnivores eat only animals. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Decomposers eat dead organic matter. break down organic matter into simpler compounds (bacteria & fungi) carnivore decomposer herbivore

What is a vegetarian considered? Herbivore? Carnivore? Omnivore?

What is the difference between a food chain & a food web? Food chain – shows one possible path for obtaining energy Food Web – shows a complex network of feeding relationships

Use your cards to create a food web!