1. ENERGY FLOW WITHIN ECOSYSTEMS
I DEFINITIONS:

2. Autotroph:
An organism that produces food from raw materials in its environment (plants).

3. Heterotroph:
An organism that must ingest preformed organic compounds (food) as a source of energy.

4. Herbivore:
A “primary consumer” – eats plants.

5. Carnivore:
A “secondary” consumer – meat eater.

6. Predator – The hunter
Prey – The hunted
Scavenger – eats dead remains

7. Omnivore:
Consumer of both plant and animal.

8. Decomposer:
A consumer that breaks down dead organic matter and recycles nutrients into the environment.

9. Limiting Factor:
The environmental factor that limits the types and/or numbers of living things in an environment.

10. Niche:
The role of an individual or species in an ecosystem.

11. II How do we illustrate the transfer of energy in an ecosytem?
A.Food Chains

12. B. Food Webs

13. C. Energy Pyramids

14. SUMMARY:
The transfer of energy is needed for ecosystems to survive.