Energy Flow in Ecosystems How Ecosystems Work Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Energy Transfer

Food Chains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWh-XKhh8xo

Energy flows in one direction from sun or inorganic molecules to autotrophs to heterotrophs

Energy Transfer Each time an organism eats another organism, an energy transfer occurs. This transfer of energy can be traced by studying food chains, food webs, and trophic levels.

Food Chains Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Arrows show the flow of energy

A food chain shows the transfer of energy through an ecosystem. Arrows show how energy moves.

Food Chain in an Antarctic Ecosystem

Food webs show all the feeding relationships in an ecosystem Food webs show all the feeding relationships in an ecosystem. They contain many food chains.

Each step of a food web or food chain is a trophic level. Consumers depend on the trophic level below for their energy. 2nd and higher levels – consumers 1st trophic level – producers

Trophic Relationships 4th Level Consumers (top predators) 3rd Level Consumers 2nd Level Consumers 1st Level Consumers (herbivores) Autotrophs

The End