Nutrition and Energy Flow What eats what?

How organisms get energy Autotrophs make their own nutrients Autotrophs make their own nutrients Plants use the sun’s energy to produce nutrients Plants use the sun’s energy to produce nutrients Heterotrophs feed on other organisms Heterotrophs feed on other organisms Herbivores eat plants Herbivores eat plants Carnivores eat other animals Carnivores eat other animals Scavangers eat dead animals Scavangers eat dead animals Decomposers break down dead and decaying plants and animals Decomposers break down dead and decaying plants and animals

Energy flow in ecosystems Food chain = simple model used to show how energy flows through an ecosystem Food chain = simple model used to show how energy flows through an ecosystem algae fish heron

Energy flow in ecosystems Trophic level = step in the food chain Trophic level = step in the food chain Each higher trophic level has fewer individuals and less energy available Each higher trophic level has fewer individuals and less energy available

Energy flow in the ecosystem Food chain is very simple, only one path Food chain is very simple, only one path Food web = a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community Food web = a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community

Cycles in Nature Like energy, matter moves through trophic levels Like energy, matter moves through trophic levels Matter gets recycled Matter gets recycled The water cycle The water cycle The carbon cycle The carbon cycle The nitrogen cycle The nitrogen cycle The phosphorus cycle The phosphorus cycle

The Water Cycle Evaporation, condensation, precipitation Evaporation, condensation, precipitation

The Carbon Cycle Photosyntheis converts CO 2 to energy rich carbon molecules used by organisms to grow Photosyntheis converts CO 2 to energy rich carbon molecules used by organisms to grow

The Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria convert nitrogen in the air into the soil where plants can use it to make proteins Bacteria convert nitrogen in the air into the soil where plants can use it to make proteins

The Phosphorus Cycle Plants get phosphorus from the soil, plants and animals need it to grow Plants get phosphorus from the soil, plants and animals need it to grow