Energy Pyramid Activity  Directions: Cut out your pyramid but DO NOT put it together! The pyramid has four triangular sides; sides should show three to four trophic levels. Each side needs to show an energy pyramid from a different ecosystem. For example, a marine ecosystem, a temperate forest ecosystem, a desert ecosystem or any that you did research on for your homework. (16 points for correct food chains plus 4 points for color!!!)

All energy pyramids must include color pictures of all the organisms (hand drawn or computer generated) and the following terms should be on one or more sides of the pyramid: (6 points) Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer Autotroph Heterotroph On one of your sides with four trophic levels show the 10 percent rule starting with 10,000KCals energy at the producers level and label how much energy is transferred to each level. (4 points)  

Energy moves through an Flow of Energy Energy moves through an ecosystem on a ONE-WAY PATHWAY

Energy and matter move through the biosphere very differently. Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. Matter can cycle because biological systems do not use up matter, they transform it. Matter is assembled into living tissue or passed out of the body as waste products.

Biogeochemical Cycles Matter Cycles Biogeochemical Cycles Water Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus *All atoms on earth have always been here – they are just recycled.

One H2O molecule may take as long as 4000 years to complete 1 cycle. The Water Cycle Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Precipitation One H2O molecule may take as long as 4000 years to complete 1 cycle.

Nutrients All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life. Every living organism needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions. Like water, nutrients are passed between organisms and the environment through biogeochemical cycles.

The Carbon Cycle ONLY photosynthesis removes Carbon from the atmosphere. Other processes key to this cycle: Respiration Decomposition

The Nitrogen Cycle The atmosphere is about 80% nitrogen. Mainly bacteria make this nitrogen available to the rest of the living world by chemically treating it and making it available to plants.

The Phosphorus Cycle Very localized cycle with no atmospheric component. Like the nitrogen and carbon cycles phosphorus is take into the food chain through plants.

(Follow the blue lines in the diagram above) Matter moves through ecosystems very differently then energy. Matter is recycled. (Follow the blue lines in the diagram above)

Biological Importance CARBON Carbon forms the framework for the organic molecules essential to all organisms NITROGEN Nitrogen is a component of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids and is a crucial and often limiting plant nutrient PHOSPHORUS Organisms require phosphorus as a major component in nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP, and as a mineral constituent of bones and teeth

Cycle Homework 1. Create a comic or animation to trace the path of one atom (carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorous) through an ecosystem. You should describe the state of the atom, the process of moving between levels. Your adventure should end where it started. 2. Create a flyer or pamphlet to explain how a nutrient cycle affects the success of garden or crop. The report must contain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers. 3. Create a flyer, pamphlet, or comic to explain how humans impact one of the cycles. The impact may be positive or negative. You must explain how we impact the cycle and if the impact is positive or negative. You may also wish to discuss what can be done to improve any negative impact we have. This counts as two homework assignments! Be creative!