Energy Flow Ecology K. Stacker SEV1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these phenomena to human society. b. Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem, recognizing that entropy is a primary factor in the loss of usable food energy during movement up the trophic levels. c. Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the trophic levels d. Relate the cycling of matter and the flow of energy to the Laws of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. Essential Question (s): 1). How does energy flow within an ecosystem?
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Where in an ecosystem does energy come from? Example of Energy Flow In an Ecosystem SUN ↓ GRASS MICE HAWK Sunlight is the main source of energy for living things. Energy flows through an ecosystem from the Sun to Organisms within the ecosystem. What are two main types of feeders within an ecosystems? Autotrophs (a.k.a. producers) use the sun’s energy to make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Heterotrophs (a.k.a. consumers) must eat other living things to get their energy. What are the classes of Heterotrophs? Classes of Heterotrophs What is Eaten Example Herbivores Eat plants deer Carnivores Eat other animals lions Omnivores Eat plants and animals Humans Decomposers (detritivores) Break down dead organisms fungi/bacteria
What is the path of energy? A food chain is a simple path of energy from producer to consumer. Each level (feeding step) is called a trophic level [troph-to feed] The ecological pyramid can be used to illustrate the loss of usable energy as heat at each trophic level. Only about 10% is passed on from one level to the next. A food web shows many interconnected food chains and illustrates all the possible feeding relationships.
Food Web
Where in an ecosystem does energy come from? Example of Energy Flow In an Ecosystem SUN ↓ GRASS MICE HAWK _____________ is the main source of energy for living things. Energy flows through an ecosystem from the Sun to ____________ within the ecosystem. Two main types of feeders within an ecosystems: ____________ (a.k.a. ____________) use the sun’s energy to make their own food through _______________ or chemosynthesis. ____________ (a.k.a. __________) must eat other living things to get their energy. Here are some examples: Classes of Heterotrophs What is Eaten Example _____________ Eat plants deer Carnivores Eat _______________ lions ____________ Eat plants and animals Humans Decomposers (detritivores) fungi/bacteria/ fungi-like protists
What is the path of energy? A ____________ is a simple path of energy from producer to consumer. Each level (feeding step) is called a _________ level [troph-to feed] The ___________ pyramid can be used to illustrate the loss of usable energy as ________ at each trophic level. Only about ______ is passed on from one level to the next. A ____________ shows many interconnected food chains and illustrates _______ the possible _______________________.
Food Web