Energy Transfer in an Ecosystem

Why do organisms need energy? To carry out essential functions Growth Movement Maintenance Repair Reproduction Sun Autotrophs Organisms that eat autotrophs Organisms that eat other organisms The amount of energy an ecosystem receives and the amount that is transferred from organism to organism affect the ecosystem’s structure!!!!!

Producers Organisms that manufacture their own foods by capturing energy and using it to make organic molecules Plants (Terrestrial) Some protists (Aquatic) Some bacteria (Aquatic)

Producers Photosynthetic Chemosynthetic Use solar energy to power the production of food Chemosynthetic Use energy stored in inorganic molecules to produce carbohydrates Deep Ocean Creatures

Consumers Heterotrophs that cannot manufacture their own food Get energy by eating other organisms or organic wastes All animals, most protists, all fungi, many bacteria

Types of Consumers What are 4 types of consumers? Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Detritivores

Herbivores vs. Detrivores Eat producers Example: Giant panda Feed on the “garbage” of an ecosystem Example: Earthworm Waste, such as dead organisms, fallen leaves, and wastes = detritus Decomposers are those bacteria and fungi that cause decay by breaking down complex molecules

Carnivore vs. Omnivore Carnivore Omnivore Eat other consumers Ex] Lions Eat both consumers and producers Ex] Pigs

Create your own graphic Label the types of organisms according to energy flow Producers: make energy-storing molecules Herbivores: consume producers Carnivores: consume herbivores Omnivores: consume producers & herbivores Detritivores: consume producers, herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores

Energy Flow When an organism eats another, energy is transferred Therefore energy flows from producers to consumers Group organisms based on energy flow in an ecosystem

Food Chains and Food Webs A single pathway of feeding relationships in an ecosystem Interrelated pathway of food chains in an ecosystem

Energy Transfer On average, only 10% of the total energy consumed in one level is incorporated into the next level. Why so low? Some escape being eaten Some die and decompose Some used for cellular respiration Some can’t be broken down Some lost as heat from metabolism

Limitations of Trophic Levels Low rate of energy transfer explains why there are only a few trophic levels in an ecosystem High trophic levels contain less energy, so they can only support a few individuals

What is the organic material in an ecosystem called? Biomass

What is an organism called that eats both producers and consumers? Omnivore

How much of the total energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next? Approximately 10%