ECOSYSTEMS: Energy Flow Food Chains www.swpc.noaa.gov/

Autotrophs Means “self-feeder” Organisms that derive energy from sunlight or chemical reactions Two different processes to gain energy: Photosynthesis Chemosynthesis Phytoplankton bloom off Irish Coast http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/pod/phytoplankton.small.jpg

Photosynthesis Chemical reaction that transforms light energy into chemical energy. Creates carbohydrates: sugars and starches. Carbon Dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/photosynthesis.jpg

Chemosynthesis Bacteria in hydro- thermal vent communities. Chemical reaction that transforms one type of chemical energy into a usable chemical energy. Many derive energy from sulfur-containing molecules. Bacteria in hydro- thermal vent communities. Unique because they do not derive energy from the sun. http://aich.aiistudentwork.com/students/joshpierce/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/hydrothermal_vent.jpg

Primary Production Autotrophic organisms are the base of all energy in ecosystems. Called primary production: Amount of chemical energy converted from solar energy through the process of photosynthesis Measured by determining biomass Biological mass = total dry weight of plant matter

Heterotrophs Means “other feeder” Organisms derive their energy from the consumption of other organisms Heterotroph Diversity Images from Google Image Search

Primary Consumers Heterotrophic organisms consume producers Consume plants or algae Known as herbivores or plant eaters Come in all shapes and sizes Images from Google Image Search

Secondary Consumers Carnivores- meat eaters Omnivores— eat both producers and consumers (Humans, bears and dogs) Detritivores (decomposers) Eat dead organisms Very important to ecosystem )  Images from Google Image Search

The Energy Pyramid Movement of energy through an ecosystem Illustrated by the energy pyramid Visual way energy moves through food chain Each step called a trophic (feeding) level

Biomass Pyramid Trophic Level 4th Carnivore 3rd Carnivore 2nd Herbivores 1st Producers

The Energy Pyramid First trophic level Base of pyramid formed by producers Second trophic level Primary consumers who eat producers Third trophic level Secondary consumers who eat primary consumers Fourth trophic level Tertiary consumers who eat secondary consumers Images from Google Image Search

Energy Loss Only about 10% of the energy available in an ecosystem is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest of the energy is lost through heat and waste products (including nails, hair, horns, hooves, etc.) http://mrskingsbioweb.com/images/enpyr1.gif