TROPHIC LEVELS IN ECOSYSTEMS

Capturing and Releasing Energy Everything that you do requires energy! Most of the energy you use came primarily from THE SUN. Since we use so much energy on a daily basis, you must be constantly renewing it in order to live.

The Producers (aka Autotrophs) A producer is an organism that captures and stores energy from the sun as chemical energy. It is later converted to GLUCOSE which can be used for many processes. Energy is absorbed into producers via photosynthesis. Common Producer: –PLANTS

The Consumers (aka Hetrotrophs) Consumers are organisms that must get their food and energy by eating other organisms. Primary consumers are the first link in a chain who primarily eat producers. Secondary consumers are the next link and eat the primary consumers. Tertiary consumers are the final link and eat the secondary consumers.

The Decomposers Decomposers are organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter into simple compounds. They are basically the “clean up crew” of an ecosystem. Common decomposers: –Fungi –Worms

Food Chains A food chain shows the relationship between a producer and a single chain of consumers in an ecosystem. Example Bermuda Grass Grasshopper Snake Hawk

Food Webs A food web shows the feeding relationships between many producers and consumers in an ecosystem. Gives a better visualization of how energy is passed from organism to organism in a ecosystem.

Energy Pyramids Energy pyramids shows the amount of energy available at each feeding level of an ecosystem. Bottom are the Producers Top are the Tertiary Consumers