Chapter 25 Modes of Nutrition

autotrophic inorganic photoautotroph photosynthesis CO2 H2O Solar Chemoautotroph Inorganic subs. chemical chemosynthesis

autotrophic heterotrophic photoautotrophic chemoautotrophic saprophytic holozoic parasitic carnivorous omnivorous herbivorous

Energy flow along a food chain Energy cannot be recycled in the ecosystem because energy is lost along the food chains. In the ecosystem, solar energy is admitted to the food chain by photoautotroph. When energy is transferred from one trophic level to another, some is lost through ? And ? The energy remained in each trophic level is finally dissipated by saprophytes (decomposers).

Flow of elements/ matters along a food chain Inorganic substances are synthesized into organic substances by autotrophs. The organic substances are passed along up the food chain. The organic substances of all trophic levels are ultimately decomposed by saprophytes/ decomposers into inorganic substances. The inorganic substances are absorbed by autotrophs again, Therefore elements/ matters can be recycled in the ecosystems.