Energy flow in the Ecosystem

Life depends on… The SUN!!!

What eats what? Producer – makes own food (photosynthesis) Consumers – eat other organisms 1) Herbivores – eat plant material only 2) Carnivores – eat other animals only 3) Omnivores – eat both plants & animals Decomposers – break down dead decaying things (ex. Bacteria/Fungi)

How do we get energy from what we eat? Cell Respiration O2 + C6H12O6  CO2 + H2O + energy We breathe oxygen, we eat sugars (glucose) & we make carbon dioxide, water & energy!

How do plants make their own food? PHOTOSYNTHESIS!! CO2 + H2O + light  O2 + C6H12O6 Plants take in carbon dioxide, water and light and produce oxygen & glucose (sugars)

So how does the energy get around the ecosystem Food chain – linear sequence of feeding relationships. Grass  grasshopper mouse  hawk

Food chain

2) Food web – diagram showing ALL feeding relationships within an ecosystem

Food web