Lesson 2

How Do Living Things Get Energy? Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (including algae) use sunlight to make sugar from carbon dioxide and water. Producers (which include some single-celled organisms) carry out this process Photosynthesis releases oxygen that other animals (fish, snails, etc.) use to breathe. Respiration – the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide to get energy Sunlight + water + CO2 sugar + oxygen

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis/Respiration Cycle

How Do Living Things Get Energy? Consumers - organisms that feed on other organisms for energy. Animals, including fish and crickets Scavengers – animals that feed on the bodies of dead organisms. Including isopods and snails Decomposers – an organism that helps to break down and decay dead organisms and the wastes of living organisms.

Plants & Animals in our Ecocolumn Aquarium Duckweed – multiplies rapidly, but can cut off light from other water plants Elodea – easy to grow and can survive in poor conditions, but can clog waterways/crowd other plants Algae – comes in all sizes (microscopic to gigantic) and many colors Mosquito Fish – strong; survive in wide range of temps; don’t mind change; eat elodea and mosquito larvae (immature mosquitos); live-bearers (fry born alive and fully formed) Snail – a gastropod, soft body protected by shell, “foot” that releases film of mucus to help it move; sees poorly, cannot hear; reproduce by laying eggs; a scavenger

Plants & Animals in our Ecocolumn Terrarium Isopod – name means “equal legs”; close relative of the lobster, crab, shrimp; has an exoskeleton which it molts (sheds) in order to grow; a scavenger Cricket – long antennae help them feel, taste, smell, detect humidity and temperature; male’s wings are used for chirping; have two spines used to sense vibrations in the air and ground; females lay eggs