Energy Flows – Food Chains and Food Webs

Food Chain​ Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy AND matter by eating​.  Energy flows 1 way.  Matter is recycled.

Food Web A group of overlapping food chains connected together in an ecosystem 

Trophic Levels Different feeding positions in a food chain or web. Copy the example food chain below

Trophic Level Names Copy the example food chain below

Primary Consumer Eats producers to get energy 2nd trophic level of the energy pyramid.

Secondary Consumer Eats herbivores to get energy 3rd trophic level of the energy pyramid.

Tertiary Consumer Eats other carnivores to get energy 4th/top energy level of the trophic level.

Energy Level Limit 10% energy passed when one organism eats another Most energy has been used by other organisms in the food chain to stay alive so...fewer organisms at the top

Energy Types Chemical Energy – passed between organisms in a food chain Thermal Energy – heat lost to the environment Solar Energy – Original source of energy

Energy Transfer When energy moves from one organism to another in a food chain. 1 way into/out of the food web/chain.

Energy Transformation When energy changes from one type of energy to another in a food chain. Example – solar to chemical during photosynthesis Example 2 - chemical to heat in an organism

Matter Recycles Matter recycles between each organism in a food web.  It never leaves the ecosystem.