Food chains (2) Begins with the Sun’s energy Solar/radiant energy converted to chemical energy by primary producers Amount of available energy decreases from trophic level to trophic level (most energy at trophic level 1 – primary producers, least energy at trophic level 5 – quaternary consumers

Food Webs Arrows show the direction the energy is flowing Number of organisms (amount of biomass) and amount of available energy typically decreases from trophic level to trophic level (ex: there will be fewer quaternary consumers than tertiary consumers because the amount of energy available decreases as the levels go up) Analysis: how many? (primary/secondary/tertiary/quaternary consumers are there) What’s missing? Who gets energy from who? What happens if? (something is removed)

Energy Pyramids Quantifies energy transfer by showing how much energy moves from trophic level to trophic level Maximum amount of energy, number of organisms and biomass at trophic level 1 10% Rule Analysis: Most/least energy? Most/least biomass? Greatest/least number of organisms? How much energy at each level? Primary Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers Quaternary Consumers

Photosynthesis Plants, algae and phytoplankton can photosynthesize Takes place in the chloroplast Converts radiant energy to chemical energy (stored in the bonds of the glucose molecules)

Cellular Respiration Cellular respiration occurs in all organisms (plants and animals) Takes place in the mitochondria Releases energy from glucose molecules Converts chemical energy to mechanical, thermal, electrical etc

Nitrogen Cycle

Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis, cellular respiration and decomposition are all integral processes in the natural carbon cycle Photosynthesis (uses CO 2 to make its own food), cellular respiration (releases CO 2 to the atmosphere) and decomposition (releases CO 2 to the atmosphere and the soil) Closely related to Global Warming

Decomposition Matter is neither created nor destroyed Needs to be recycled Decomposition restores elements needed to produce organic compounds to the ecosystem Decomposition releases energy from the biomass back into the ecosystem

Composting Process of creating ideal conditions for speeding up natural decomposition Composting requires the following: Organic waste Soil bacteria Water Oxygen from the air Composting produces the following: Carbon Dioxide Heat Humus (finished compost)